Mob, Chanting 'Allah u Akbar', Storms Russian Airport Looking For Israelis
New Age Islam News Bureau
30 October 2023
People in
the crowd walk shouting anti-Semitic slogans at an airfield of the airport in
Makhachkala, Russia, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023. (AP Photo)
-----
Europe
·
Only 5% Of
British Muslims Say They Would Vote For Labour Again
·
Palestine’s
UK Envoy Thanks British Public For Support, Slams ‘Racist’ Netanyahu
·
Alleged
'attack' at Central Oxford Mosque condemned
·
Five
charged after pro-Palestinian protests in London
·
More than
1,000 Afghans who fled Taliban to travel to UK ‘to be made homeless in
December’
·
UK police
snoop around schools after pro-Palestine demonstrations
·
Europe
Must Act Urgently Against 'Planned Genocide' In Gaza
--------
Mideast
·
Iran Warns
Of New War Fronts, Expansion Of War If US Continues Support For Israel
·
Palestinian
Death Toll From Israeli Attacks On Gaza Crosses 8000
·
Israel
committing 'flagrant genocide' in Gaza: Iran Foreign Ministry
·
Iran,
Qatar Call For Immediate End To Israel’s Aggression Against Gaza
·
UNICEF:
Gaza Children In ‘Catastrophic Situation’ As Israeli War Rages On
·
47
mosques, 3 churches damaged in Gaza Strip since Oct 7: Media office
·
Dagestan:
Muslim Rioters Gather At Airport To Attack Israeli Passengers
·
Hamas Says
‘Heavy Fighting’ In Gaza As Israel Steps Up Ground War
·
Hezbollah
says it has downed an Israeli drone in south Lebanon
·
UN says at
least 33 aid trucks entered Gaza on Sunday
·
Fears of
air strike on Al-Quds Hospital grow as Israeli forces advance in Gaza
·
Raisi says
Gazans have written great epic in confronting brutal crimes of Zionists
-------
Arab World
·
Saudi FM
Discusses Gaza Crisis With French, Iranian Counterparts
·
Saudi
Arabia says Sudan peace talks in Jeddah to focus on aid delivery, ceasefire
·
Haram
Presidency: Eclipse Prayer Not Offered Due To Inability To See Moon In Cloudy
Atmosphere
·
Saudi
Attorney General meets with Chinese counterpart
--------
Pakistan
·
Massive Pro-Palestine
Protests Lament State ‘Inaction’ On Gaza Situation
·
Ready For
Jihad Along With People Of Palestine: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl Chief
·
JUI-F
Chief condemns Israeli atrocities against Palestinians
·
Fazl urges
rulers to break free from ‘American slavery’
·
Maulana
Tariq Jamil’s son dies of gunshot wound
·
Expulsion
of illegal foreigners to be carried out in phases: Pakistan’s interior minster
-------
India
·
Two
Thrashed For Shouting Slogans Near Mosque In Nand Nagri
·
Modi Calls
Up Egyptian President, Discusses Israeli Military Actions in Gaza
·
Uttar
Pradesh Man Shot Dead By a Terrorist In Jammu And Kashmir's Pulwama
·
‘Ray Of
Hope’: How Persistence Led To Conviction Of Four Gujarat Policemen Who Flogged
Muslim Men
·
Power
Games: Government Deputes Top Officers To Save 8 Navy Men
-------
North America
·
US Asking
Israel ‘Hard Questions’ On Gaza Military Assault: White House
·
Thousands
of pro-Palestinian protesters march in New York
·
Canadians
calls for Gaza ceasefire, end of Western funding for Israel
--------
South Asia
·
Imam of
Holy Masjid-e Nabawi Calls On Bangladesh PM, Says Bangladesh Is His Second
Country
·
BNP-Jamaat
Hartal: With Sticks And Rods, Awami League Men Guard Dhaka
·
Muttaqi
Meets With Diplomats of Islamic Emirate in Turkey
·
Afghan
refugees complain of mistreatment by Pakistani police
·
Uzbekistan
economic delegation arrives in Afghanistan
·
Uzbekistan
Delegates Call for Peace in Afghanistan
·
High
Commission Meeting Addresses Challenges of Returning Afghan Refugees
·
Rights
worker writes to UN about Bangladeshi migrants’ dire situation in Malaysia
---------
Southeast Asia
·
PM Anwar:
Malaysia, Singapore Both Call For Ceasefire And Humanitarian Aid Amid Renewed Palestine-Israel
Conflict
·
Muslims in
Japan denounce Israel against bombing of Gaza
·
Mahathir
Mohamad: US behind Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza
·
In Appeal
To Stop Man’s Reburial As Alleged Muslim Convert, Hindu Family Says Shariah Court
Had No Jurisdiction
·
Ex-Bukit
Assek rep blasted for asking Sarawak ministry to issue directives on ‘Palestine
Solidarity Week’ for schools in state
·
Public Funds
Leakage, Shariah Courts Among Parliament’s Agenda Today
-------
Africa
·
Sudan’s Army
And Rival Paramilitary Force In Fresh Peace Talks In Jeddah
·
Ghana: EU
delivers 105 military vehicles in face of jihadist threat from Sahel
·
Global
Summit in Brazzaville: Leaders convene to protect tropical forests and combat
climate change
Compiled by
New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/mob-allah-akbar-russian-airport-israelis/d/131011
----
Mob, Chanting 'Allah u Akbar', Storms
Russian Airport Looking For Israelis
People in
the crowd walk shouting anti-Semitic slogans at an airfield of the airport in
Makhachkala, Russia, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023. (AP Photo)
Oct 30, 2023
On Sunday, Makhachkala airport in
Russia's Dagestan was besieged by hundreds of protesters opposing Israel,
following the arrival of a plane from the country. Local health officials
reported around 20 injuries, with two individuals in severe condition.
Makhachkala is among various locations in the north Caucasus with significant
Muslim populations.
According to Flight radar, a plane from
Tel Aviv, Flight WZ4728, had landed in Makhachkala at 7pm (1600 GMT).
Independent Russian media, Sota, reported that this was a transit flight
scheduled to depart for Moscow two hours later.
Numerous demonstrators, some shouting
"Allah u Akbar", breached security, with a few accessing the runway.
This was documented in videos shared on social media and by Russian news
outlets RT and Izvestia.
Israel’s flag unfurled in Gaza after 18
years, viral video shows
Following the incident, Russia's
aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya, temporarily shut down the airport and
dispatched security personnel. Local officials confirmed the situation was
stabilized.
Later, Rosaviatsiya stated that the
airport had been secured from the group and would remain closed until November
6.
Various Telegram channels displayed images
of men stationed outside the airport, intercepting vehicles. One of the videos
showed a protester with a placard stating, "Child killers are not welcome
in Dagestan". Other footage depicted a mob inside the airport terminal
attempting to force open doors while airport staff resisted.
On October 7, Hamas militants launched a
major assault across the Gaza border, resulting in the death of 1,400
individuals, primarily civilians, and the abduction of 230, as reported by
Israeli authorities.
In response, Israel conducted extensive
airstrikes on Gaza, leading to over 8,000 casualties, half of them children, as
per the health department in the Hamas-controlled region.
Palestinians plead 'stop the bombs' at
UN meeting but Israel insists Hamas must be 'obliterated'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu's office released a statement on Sunday evening, emphasizing Israel's
expectation for Russia to ensure the safety of all Israelis and Jews in the
country.
Earlier that day, Akhmed Dudayev, the
information minister of neighboring Chechnya, cautioned against
"provocations" on Telegram and appealed for peace amidst escalating
tensions.
The Dagestan government, through
Telegram, called for an end to the "illegal acts" and urged its
citizens to remain calm and avoid causing panic.
How this Israel-Hamas conflict is like
nothing that’s happened before
“We urge residents of the republic to
treat the current situation in the world with understanding. Federal
authorities and international organizations are making every effort to bring
about a ceasefire against Gaza civilians … we urge residents of the republic
not to succumb to the provocations of destructive groups and not to create
panic in society,” the Dagestani government wrote on Telegram.
The Supreme Mufti of Dagestan, Sheikh
AkhmadAfandi, called on residents to stop the unrest at the airport.
“You are mistaken. This issue cannot be
resolved in this way. We understand and perceive your indignation very
painfully. ... We will solve this issue differently. Not with rallies, but
appropriately. Maximum patience and calm for you,” he said in a video published
to Telegram.
Dagestan governor Sergei Melikov
promised consequences for anyone who took part in the violence.
“The actions of those who gathered at
the Makhachkala airport today are a gross violation of the law! ... (W)hat
happened at our airport is outrageous and should receive an appropriate
assessment from law enforcement agencies! And this will definitely be done!” he
wrote on Telegram.
Hamas militants used 'poor man's
cocaine' during Israel attack: Report
He called the protests a “knife in the
backs of those who gave their lives for the security of the Motherland,”
referring to the 1999 war in Dagestan and troops currently fighting in Ukraine.
Both Dagestan and Chechnya are
predominantly Muslim regions in Russia, known for their longstanding tensions
with the central government.
On the same day, it was reported that a
Jewish centre in another North Caucasus republic, Kabardino-Balkaria, was set
ablaze in Nalchik city.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
expressed his dismay at the disturbing videos circulating online. He criticized
this as a reflection of Russia's deep-seated animosity towards other nations,
which he believes is promoted by the state media and officials.
Dagestan, Russia's southernmost and one
of its most impoverished regions, has been actively involved in the conflict in
Ukraine. Reports suggest that Dagestan has contributed a significant number of
fighters to Ukraine compared to other Russian regions.
US 'vigorously' condemns 'anti-Semitic'
mob in Russia's Dagestan
The United States condemned the "anti-Semitic
protests" that rocked a Dagestan airport Sunday, a White House National
Security Council spokeswoman said.
"The United States vigorously
condemns the antisemitic protests in Dagestan, Russia," Adrienne Watson
said on X, formerly Twitter. "The US unequivocally stands with the entire
Jewish community as we witness a worldwide surge in antisemitism."
(With inputs from agencies)
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/hundreds-storm-russias-dagestan-airport-to-protest-flight-from-israel/articleshow/104806324.cms
----------
Preventing Aid Getting To Gaza Could Be
‘A Crime’: ICC Prosecutor
A truck
carrying humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip crosses the Rafah border gate in
Rafah, Egypt, October 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Mohammed Asad)
------
October 30, 2023
CAIRO: The International Criminal
Court’s chief prosecutor warned Sunday that blocking humanitarian aid from
entering Gaza could constitute a crime.
“Impeding relief supplies as provided by
the Geneva Conventions may constitute a crime within the court jurisdiction,”
Karim Khan told reporters in Cairo.
He was speaking after a visit to Egypt’s
Rafah crossing, where he said trucks full of desperately needed goods remained
stuck and unable to cross into Gaza.
“I saw trucks full of goods, full of
humanitarian assistance stuck where nobody needs them, stuck in Egypt, stuck at
Rafah,” he said.
“These supplies must get to the
civilians of Gaza without delay.”
Rafah is the only entry point through
which international aid is currently able to trickle into the Hamas-run
Palestinian territory, which is facing a near-total siege and relentless
Israeli bombardment.
Israel imposed the siege and unleashed
its massive bombing campaign after Hamas gunmen stormed across the border on
October 7, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and seizing 230 hostages,
according to Israeli officials.
Israel’s strikes have since then killed
more than 8,000 people, half of them children, the Hamas-controlled health
ministry in the territory said.
Since limited aid deliveries resumed
through the Rafah crossing on October 21, a total of 117 trucks have entered.
Prior to the siege, some 500 trucks
carrying aid and other goods entered Gaza every day.
Khan said he wanted “to underline
clearly to Israel that there must be discernible efforts without further delay
to make sure civilians (in Gaza) receive basic food, medicines.”
On Sunday the United Nations warned it
feared a breakdown of public order after looting at food aid centers in Gaza
run by its agency for Palestinian refugees, the UNRWA.
UN chief Antonio Guterres said the
situation was “growing more desperate by the hour” as casualty numbers increase
and essential supplies of food, water, medicine and shelter dwindle.
Khan said his office had an ongoing
investigation into “any crimes committed on the territory of Palestine and any
crimes committed, whether it’s by Israel and Palestine or whether it’s acts
committed on the territory of Palestine or from Palestine into Israel.”
“This includes current events in Gaza
and also current events in the West Bank,” Khan said.
He said he was “very concerned also by
the spike of the number of reported incidents of attack by settlers against
Palestinian civilians” in the territory Israel has occupied since 1967.
Khan also stressed that hostage-taking
was a breach of the Geneva Conventions.
“I call for the immediate release of all
hostages taken from Israel and for their safe return to their families,” he
said.
The British lawyer said “Israel has
clear obligations in relation to its war with Hamas, not just moral obligations
but legal obligations” to comply with the laws of conflict.
“These principles equally apply to Hamas
in relation to firing indiscriminate rockets into Israel,” he said.
Set up in 2002, the ICC is the only
global independent tribunal to probe the world’s worst crimes including
genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The Palestinians signed up to the
court’s founding Rome Statute in 2015.
Israel, which is not a signatory to the
ICC, has refused to cooperate with the probe or recognize its jurisdiction.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2399911/middle-east
--------
Beware Of Ignorant Muftis’ Religious
Edicts (Fatwas); Warns Saudi Grand Mufti
Sheikh Abdul
Aziz Al-Sheikh, grand mufti and head of the General Presidency for Scholarly
Research and Ifta, opening a meeting of muftis in Riyadh on Saturday.
------
October 29, 2023
RIYADH — Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh,
grand mufti of Saudi Arabia and head of the General Presidency for Scholarly
Research and Ifta, warned against taking religious edicts (fatwas) from
ignorant muftis. “We have useful initiatives and programs that tend to realize
the goals set by the Islamic Shariah, and the Muslim community should adhere to
it by taking fatwas from their reliable sources,” he said while cautioning
against the ignorant muftis who deceive people with regard to their religion.
The grand mufti made the remarks in his
opening speech at the first meeting of the fatwa officials from various regions
of the Kingdom. Several department directors of the presidency attended the
meeting, organized by the General Administration of Fatwa.
While addressing the fatwa officials
from various regions of the Kingdom, Al-Sheikh praised the blessings that God
has bestowed on Saudi Arabia, in terms of security, stability, unity, and
cohesion.
“We at the General Presidency for
Scholarly Research and Ifta are doing great work at present in accordance with
the directives of those in charge and what our true religion dictates to us,”
he said while praising the great efforts made by the members of the Council of
Senior Scholars and the Permanent Committee for Fatwa, as well as the fatwa
officials all over the Kingdom.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/637189/SAUDI-ARABIA/Beware-of-ignorant-muftis-warns-Saudi-grand-mufti-nbsp
-------
Hamas’s Political Bureau Chairman Vows
To Continue Resistance Against Zionist Forces; Expresses Gratitude To The
People of Pakistan
This grab
from AFP TV footage shows a salvo of rockets fired from Gaza City on October
27, 2023. — AFP
-------
October 30, 2023
ISLAMABAD: Hamas political bureau
chairman Ismail Haniyeh delivered a telephonic address to a large gathering
here on Sunday, declaring to continue resistance against the Zionist forces
till the liberation of Palestine.
He expressed gratitude to the
Jamaat-e-Islami and the people of Pakistan for their steadfast support of the
Palestinian cause, acknowledging Pakistan’s UN envoy Munir Akram’s advocacy on
behalf of the Palestinian people in the international arena.
Thousands of individuals, along with
leaders from various political and religious organisations, actively took part
in the event.
Carrying Palestinian flags, the
participants fervently chanted slogans condemning the Israeli forces’ acts of
genocide in Gaza and the United States’ support for these atrocities. A large
number of women along with their children also participated in the march.
Jamaat-e-Islami leader Sirajul Haq led
the Gaza March on Embassy Road, denouncing the support of the United States for
Israeli aggression on people of Palestine. The JI leadership previously had
announced to march up to the US Embassy. However, the march was concluded at
the Embassy Road after the Islamabad administration did not allow the
organisers to stage a protest in front of the US Embassy. Sirajul Haq, on the
occasion, condemned the raids, arrests, and torture carried out by the
Islamabad police on the JI workers. He said an impression was given that the
protesters would attack the US Embassy adding that instead of facilitating the
event, the government attempted to stop the Gaza March.
Siraj pledged unwavering support for
Palestine and announced a Million March in Lahore, in solidarity with Gaza,
scheduled for November 19.
He urged an immediate ceasefire in Gaza,
demanding that Washington should cease its support for the aggressor. He
highlighted that Israeli forces, in blatant disregard for the UN resolution,
were persistently carrying out attacks on innocent civilians in Gaza. He
underscored that Gaza is grappling with severe shortages of water, food, and
medicine, and its two million inhabitants are looking towards the leaders of
Ummah, who have remained passive spectators to the relentless cruelties
inflicted by the Zionist forces. “Israel’s violation of all international laws
and norms, coupled with its defiance of the UN General Assembly’s call for a
ceasefire, has been aggravated by its launch of a ground assault on Gaza.”
Siraj expressed concern over the
mounting death toll resulting from the Israeli offensive. He said the Zionist
forces have caused the deaths of thousands of Palestinians, including women and
children, in the recent attacks. He questioned the inaction of Muslim rulers,
emphasizing the urgent need for them to become sincere advocates for the Ummah.
He said that the JI charity, al-Khidmat
Foundation, was actively involved in collecting aid for Gaza and appealed to
the public to generously support their efforts.
Allama Jawad Naqvi, JI central
naibameers Mian Muhammad Aslam, Professor Muhammad Ibrahim, Liaquat Baloch,
secretary general Amirul Azeem, ex-MNA Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali, Director
JI Foreign Affairs Asif Luqman Qazi, JI Islamabad Ameer Nasarullah Randhawa and
others also addressed the march.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1124186-hamas-s-haniyeh-vows-to-continue-resistance-against-zionist-forces
--------
Solidarity With Palestine: Bengaluru
Police Stifle Pro-Palestine Protests With Denial of Permission, FIRs
A protestor
holding a placard with Palestine's flag and "I stand with Palestine"
written. Photo: The News Minute
-------
29/OCT/2023
Shivani Kava
Bengaluru has witnessed a wave of
activism in solidarity with Palestine, as citizens seek to raise their voices
against the ongoing conflict in the region. However, their efforts have been
met with resistance from the local police force. A Karnataka High Court
judgment in January 2022 currently allows protests only at Freedom park in
Bengaluru. However, as far as pro-Palestine protests go, the police have been
swiftly denying permissions for demonstrations and registering First
Information Reports against peaceful protestors.
The Bengaluru police have rejected as
many as three petitions seeking permission to protest at Freedom Park in
solidarity with Palestine- and have given different excuses for the rejection.
Two applications by Left parties — the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and
the Socialist Unity Centre of India were rejected citing “limited space”.
The latest and the third instance is the
denial of permission by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) to a coalition
of civil society groups on the ground that protesting in solidarity with
Palestinians was an “international issue”. The letter from DCP S Girish said,
“Since you have requested permission to hold a protest in relation to
international issues in the petition letter, the permission has been denied for
the protest on 28-10-2023 in the interest of maintaining law and order.”
The police have also detained and
registered FIRs against protestors for expressing solidarity with Palestine. In
Bengaluru, two FIRs were lodged following a gathering of activists and civil
society members at the MG Road Metro Station on October 16, where they called
for India to condemn Israel’s attack on Palestine. As many as 30 activists were
picked up by the police and detained in Ashok Nagar and Cubbon Park police
stations.
A 58-year-old man in Mangaluru was
arrested for a video in which he appealed for prayers for Hamas. In Hosapete, a
20-year-old youth was detained for sharing a pro-Palestine status on WhatsApp.
In response to the police clampdown,
Bengaluru for Justice and Peace, a coalition of civil society groups has
written a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, demanding the right to protest
and assemble peacefully. The letter highlighted the paradox of police
registering FIRs against peaceful protesters for holding protests outside
Freedom Park, while simultaneously denying permissions to protest within the
park itself. “Such actions of the Karnataka state government is not only an
assault on the fundamental rights of citizens to protest, but also display a
cruel indifference to the genocide being carried out by the Israeli government,
and is an immoral abuse of power by these offices,” the letter said.
Activists questioned the Karnataka
government’s stance, highlighting that other states have permitted large
rallies and protests in solidarity with Palestine, while Karnataka has chosen
to stifle such expressions of support. Recently, a mega rally was held by the
Indian Union Muslim League in Kerala and several thousands participated. The
letter said, “We, members of Bengaluru for Justice and Peace, strongly believe
that the reasons furnished by the police in their letter rejecting permission
for our protest are insufficient and unsubstantiated, to say the least. We are
shocked at the deliberate attempt to silence our voices in support of
Palestine, when the Congress Party as well the Union government have issued
statements in support of the Palestinian people.”
Activists also highlighted the
statements issued by political parties at both the state and national level,
expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people. They argue that the actions
of the Karnataka government and police stand in stark contrast to these
statements, creating a dissonance in the approach towards the Israel-Palestine
conflict. “Why is the Karnataka government deliberately silencing voices of
solidarity with the Palestinian people? Why is the Karnataka police filing FIRs
against those seeking an end to Israeli occupation?” the activists questioned.
Since October 7, Israel and Hamas, a Palestine-based
militant group, have been engaged in a war that has taken several thousand
lives. The crisis is being described as the most severe security situation in
the region in the last five decades.
Source: thewire.in
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://thewire.in/rights/bengaluru-police-stifle-pro-palestine-protests-with-denial-of-permission-firs
--------
Europe
Only 5% of British Muslims say they
would vote for Labour again
2023-10-30
Jack Peat
A new poll suggests Labour could see an
outright collapse in its Muslim vote at the next general election because of
its response to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Sir Keir Starmer provoked a backlash in
the Muslim community over an LBC interview in which he suggested that Israel
has the “right” to cut off power and water from Gaza.
He has since acknowledged the “distress”
caused by the remarks and has sought to clarify his position, arguing that he
did not mean to back the siege on more than two million Palestinians.
The comments have led to a raft of
resignations at a council level, and could have dealt a hammer blow to the
party’s support within the Muslim community.
Research group Muslim Census conducted a
survey to gauge how the government’s response to the recent events in Israel
and Palestine has affected British Muslim’s potential voting choices.
It received 30,000 responses and found a
66 PER CENT drop in Labour voters.
The survey revealed that in the 2019
General Election, 71 per cent of British Muslims voted for Labour while now,
just five percent said they would vote Labour again.
A staggering 98 per cent of respondents
said their decision was influenced by the Labour Party’s stance on the ongoing
conflict in Israel and Palestine.
The founder of Muslim Census, Sadiq
Dorasat said: “To receive over 30,000 responses in the space of a week, shows
how important and pressing this topic is for British Muslims.”
Source: thelondoneconomic.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/only-5-of-british-muslims-say-they-would-vote-for-labour-again-361930/
---------
Palestine’s UK envoy thanks British
public for support, slams ‘racist’ Netanyahu
October 29, 2023
LONDON: Palestine’s ambassador to the
UK, HusamZomlot, has thanked the hundreds of thousands of protesters across
Britain who have demanded a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the Israeli
occupation.
The remarks were made in a BBC interview
on Sunday, a day after large-scale demonstrations took place in several cities
including London, Manchester, Glasgow and Cardiff.
“The British people are renowned to
always side with fairness and today they have really delivered a loud and clear
verdict that they are not pro-Palestine but that they are pro-international
law, pro-humanity, pro-justice, and pro-peace,” Zomlot said.
“For that we salute every one of them
who came out despite the intimidations and the attempts to silence them to say
enough is enough.”
Emphasizing the importance of grassroot
campaigns, Zomlot said that the anti-apartheid movement that helped end the
racist regime in South Africa “emanated” from London.
“That is why you have South Africa House
in Trafalgar Square standing there to remind everybody of the role of the
people, particularly of the British people,” he said.
Zomlot also pointed out that some of the
largest demonstrations in the US have been spearheaded by Jewish activists.
On Friday, hundreds of activists from
the group Jewish Voice for Peace took over New York’s Grand Central Terminal to
call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Reacting to Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement that his country’s war against Hamas was
moving into its second phase, Zomlot remarked: “This isn’t a war against Hamas;
it’s a war against our people.”
He elaborated: “Bombing children is
targeting Hamas? Bombing hospitals is targeting Hamas? Bombing churches and
mosques targeting Hamas? Bombing our civil infrastructure, rescue teams and
medical teams is targeting Hamas? Cutting food, water, electricity and
telecommunications …”
Zomlot then criticized the BBC and other
international media outlets for “blaming” Palestinian victims for being killed.
He called on them to stop perpetuating what he termed as the “false, racist
Israeli propaganda that those Israel kills are ‘human shields.’”
Zomlot posed a hypothetical scenario:
“For the sake of Israeli propaganda, let’s imagine a psychopath in London takes
10 children into a hospital and takes them hostage. The British authorities
would go and bombard that hospital? Seriously?”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2399811/world
--------
Alleged 'attack' at Central Oxford
Mosque condemned
29th October
Albert Tait
An alleged “attack” took place at a
mosque in Oxford yesterday morning (Saturday, October 28).
Central Oxford Mosque claim that a red
petrol can was thrown over its gates at around 10.30am with the wordings ‘IDF
RULE’ and ‘IDF’.
IDF stands for the Israel Defense Forces,
which is carrying out ground operations in Gaza as part of the ongoing
Israel-Hamas conflict.
The mosque said an inspector and two
colleagues from Thames Valley Police attended the incident.
The force has been contacted for
comment.
In a joint statement, Oxford East MP
AnnelieseDodds and Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council, said they were
“shocked and saddened” by the incident.
“We stand with the Muslim community in
Oxford in condemning this cowardly attack and urging people to be vigilant,”
they said.
Source: oxfordmail.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23886508.alleged-attack-central-oxford-mosque-condemned/
-------
Five charged after pro-Palestinian
protests in London
October 29, 2023
LONDON: Police in London said that five
people had been charged on Sunday after their arrest during pro-Palestinian
protests a day earlier, which saw tens of thousands march for a humanitarian
cease-fire in Gaza.
The Metropolitan Police arrested nine
people — two on suspicion of assaulting police officers and seven for public
order offenses.
A further two people were arrested on
Sunday morning, suspected of inciting racial hatred following an incident in
Trafalgar Square on Saturday evening, the Met said in a statement.
Among the five charged, aged between 16
and 51, two were accused of racially aggravated offenses, including the display
of a placard that was “threatening and racist in nature.”
The others were accused of throwing a
beer can at a protester and verbal and physical assaults on police officers.
About 100,000 people joined the “March
for Palestine” in London on Saturday according to British media, which also
reported scuffles with police.
It was the third consecutive weekend
that London hosted a large rally in support of Palestinians.
Organizers claimed that 500,000 people
took part this Saturday, compared with 300,000 a week ago.
London’s Metropolitan Police deployed
more than 1,000 officers to patrol the march.
On Sunday afternoon, around 200 people
holding portraits of hostages taken by Hamas gathered outside the Qatari
embassy in London to call for their release, according to an AFP photographer.
Hamas militants stormed across the Gaza
border on October 7 in the deadliest attack in Israel’s history, killing 1,400
people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 230 others, according to Israeli
officials.
The health ministry in Gaza says the
retaliatory Israeli bombardment has killed more than 8,000 people, mainly
civilians and half of them children.
The conflict has led to a sharp rise in
racist incidents in the UK.
Anti-Semitic acts in London have
multiplied about 14-fold, and Islamophobic acts by almost three, Scotland Yard
chief Mark Rowley told Sky News on Sunday.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2399806/world
---------
More than 1,000 Afghans who fled Taliban
to travel to UK ‘to be made homeless in December’
October 29, 2023
LONDON: More than 1,000 Afghans who fled
the Taliban for a new life in the UK are facing the threat of being made
homeless after the Home Office imposed a new deadline of Dec. 15 to evict them
from hotels, The Guardian reported.
The Local Government Association says
some Afghans who served UK interests in Afghanistan could already be sleeping
on the streets after the government forced them out of hotels more than two
years after they were evacuated from Kabul.
Separate new data shows that more than
5,200 Ukrainian families are currently receiving “homelessness support,” with
4,350 identified as homeless after relationships with UK families with whom
they were residing “broke down.”
Council leaders appealed to Immigration
Minister Robert Jenrick on Thursday for additional funding to help accommodate
Afghans and Ukrainians, but none was offered.
LGA Chairman Shaun Davies told The
Guardian: “Councils are becoming increasingly concerned over the numbers of
Afghan and Ukrainian families presenting as homeless, which is likely to
dramatically increase when Home Office accommodation is withdrawn as a result
of the current clearance of the asylum backlog.”
According to an internal LGA briefing
note on the plight of Afghan refugees who arrived in the UK in 2021: “Councils
remain hugely concerned that some families — some of whom are particularly
vulnerable and will have ongoing medical conditions — may have to end up
presenting as homeless, particularly given the lack of available housing stock
for larger and multi-generational families.”
The crisis has been exacerbated by the
arrival of Afghans who had been waiting for relocation in Pakistan.
The refugees are thought to have been
accommodated in former Ministry of Defence buildings. However, councils suspect
some will have to be resettled in hotels that the government intends on keeping
free of asylum-seekers.
The first flight carrying Afghan
refugees from Pakistan to the UK arrived on Friday. Another 3,200 in Pakistan
are awaiting UK visas after working for the British government or the army.
The LGA briefing note added:
“Afghanistan households who were not included as part of the 2021 evacuation to
the UK but are entitled to come as part of the existing resettlement schemes —
potentially several thousand more people — are also likely to arrive in the
coming weeks.”
Veterans’ Affairs Minister Johnny Mercer
said in August that if Afghans who worked for the UK government ended up
homeless, he would have failed.
A government spokesperson told the
Guardian: “The UK made an ambitious and generous commitment to the people of
Afghanistan and, so far, we have brought around 24,600 people to safety.
“We do not recognize the Local
Government Association figures as the vast majority of those still in interim
accommodation have been pre-matched to settled accommodation.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2399606/world
--------
UK police snoop around schools after
pro-Palestine demonstrations
October 30, 2023
POLICE officers in London have been
instructed to gather intelligence from schools after massive protests against
Israeli atrocities in Gaza, sparking concerns that it will lead to more
discrimination against minority communities, the Guardian has reported.
The officers of London police, also
called Metropolitan police, have been ordered to “increase their visible
patrols” at schools and engage with school staff in order to obtain information
about “community tensions”, according to a letter sent to headteachers.
The letter written to headteachers of
schools in four London districts by a top Met police officer stated that the
engagement would help the force’s “intelligence and information-gathering”,
according to the Guardian.
The publication said that more police
officers would be stationed at schools to help create “safe spaces” in
collaboration with school staff.
Activists say move will increase
discrimination against minorities
Rights activists and community leaders
have expressed concerns over the move, saying it would further erode the
minority communities’ trust in police.
“It’s very likely these actions will
stereotype and criminalise young people, especially those from minority
backgrounds,” Stafford Scott, a community campaigner, told the Guardian.
“Trust and confidence in the police in
the communities that I deal with is very low. Rather than reassuring children,
their presence in schools generally causes alarm and concern on the basis that
they disproportionately target children from ethnic minorities.”
‘Ruthless’ against hate crime
Separately, the head of London police
has said his officers would “ruthlessly” arrest anyone who commits a hate
crime, but there could only be prosecutions when the law is broken, Reuters
reported.
Mark Rowley, the head of London’s
Metropolitan Police force, said he would support a review into the legal
definition of extremism in response to criticism of the way his officers
handled pro-Palestinian protests in London.
Some British politicians have criticised
London’s police after they failed to arrest people at a pro-Palestinian rally
shouting “jihad”. The police later said the phrase could have many meanings,
concluding no offence had taken place.
“There is scope to be much sharper in
how we deal with extremism within this country,” the Met police chief told Sky
News.
“The law was never designed to deal with
extremism. There’s a lot to do with terrorism and hate crime, but we don’t have
a body of law that deals with extremism, and that is creating a gap.”
UK ministers are reviewing the legal
definition of extremism in a move designed to counter hate crimes, including
antisemitism, according to one government official. The UK government is also
examining potential changes to terrorism legislation, The Sunday Telegraph
reported.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1784902/uk-police-snoop-around-schools-after-pro-palestine-demonstrations
--------
Europe must act urgently against
'planned genocide' in Gaza
Oct 30, 2023
TEHRAN, Oct. 30 (MNA) – Spain's acting
social rights minister on Sunday urged Europe to act urgently against
"planned genocide" in Palestine.
Ione Belarra's remarks came in a video
shared on her X account, in which she spoke to reporters during a pro-Palestine
protest in Madrid.
“Today we are here accompanying all the
decent people of our country and also all those people throughout Europe who
want to ask and demand an end once and for all to this planned genocide, this
ethnic cleansing of the people of Palestine that is being carried out by the
State of Israel,” Belarra said.
The European leaders, including the
Spanish, are "not up to the gravity of the circumstances," she said
and stressed, "We do not want to be
complicit in this planned genocide and we think that Europe must act urgently.
I believe that Europe is going to pay dearly for this hypocrisy."
She continued, "The public is
astonished to see how the whole position of the European Union is subordinated
to the interests of the United States and the State of Israel."
Saying that such a position can change
today, the minister called on European countries once again to suspend
diplomatic relations with Israel, and apply exemplary economic sanctions
against Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the entire political
leadership, as well as an arms embargo.
“Of course, (we should) take Netanyahu
to the International Criminal Court to be judged as what he is, a war
criminal,” she said and added, "I insist, not with our silence and not
with our complicity. We need the European Union to act.”
Israel has heavily bombarded Gaza since
Oct. 7 when the Palestinian group Hamas carried out a surprising operation.
The number of Palestinians killed in
Israeli attacks on Gaza has risen to 8,005, including 3,342 children, 2,062
women, and 460 elderly, according to the Health Ministry.
The Israeli army's spokesperson, Daniel
Hagari, on Saturday announced "expanding its operations," and moving
to the "next phase of our war against Hamas," which includes ground
operations.
Gaza's 2.3 million residents are also
grappling with shortages of food, water, fuel, and medicine due to Israel’s
blockade of the enclave.
Source: mehrnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://en.mehrnews.com/news/207737/Europe-must-act-urgently-against-planned-genocide-in-Gaza
---------
Mideast
Iran warns of new war fronts, expansion
of war if US continues support for Israel
30 October 2023
Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein
Amir-Abdollahian has warned that new war fronts would open if US continues its
all-out support for Israel as the Tel Aviv regime presses ahead with its war
crimes and genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
In an interview with Bloomberg
Television published on Saturday, Amir-Abdollahian said the US’s unconditional
support for Israel has escalated the regime’s war against the Palestinian
resistance movement Hamas and the killing of civilians, especially women and
children.
“If the Israelis do not stop the war and
continue with the killing and crimes [against the Palestinians], the opening of
new fronts will be unavoidable, and that will put Israel in a new situation
that will make it regret its actions,” he added.
He called out the glaring double
standard of the United States, saying, “The US is advising others to show
self-restraint, but it has sided completely with Israel,” which is described by
international law as an “occupying power.”
The top Iranian diplomat emphasized that
the continuation of the US’s full support for Israel would spiral the situation
out of control in the region, warning that it would be detrimental to
Washington as well.
The Israeli regime has been waging a
brutal war against Gaza since October 7, when Hamas and its fellow Gaza-based
resistance movement, the Islamic Jihad, launched their biggest operation
against the occupying entity in years.
The surprise Palestinian operation,
dubbed Al-Aqsa Storm, came in response to the regime’s intensified crimes
against the Palestinian people.
The death toll in Gaza since the start
of the Israeli aggression has exceeded 8,000, 70 percent of whom are women and
children.
70 percent of casualties in Gaza have
been children, women, and the elderly.
'An entirely Palestinian decision'
Amir-Abdollahian also defended the
“completely Palestinian decision” made by Hamas to launch Operation Al-Aqsa
Storm.
“Hamas, Islamic Jihad and [Lebanon’s
resistance movement] Hezbollah are groups that act in line with their own
countries’ interests. They neither take orders from us nor do we give them
orders,” he said.
In response to a question about ways to
reduce tensions, the minister advised the US to act fairly.
Iran has always played a constructive
role in the region and believes that tensions would be reduced through
political approaches, he added.
Amir-Abdollahian reiterated that
Israel’s occupation is the root cause of the ongoing crisis in the region and
noted that Iran has never supported and will never support the killing of
civilians anywhere.
The chief Iranian diplomat denied a
report by The Wall Street Journal claiming that in the weeks leading up to
Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, hundreds of Palestinian resistance fighters received
specialized combat training in Iran.
“They themselves have forces to train. They
produce the weapons and equipment they need. We have strong political bond with
Hezbollah and resistance groups,” he responded.
The minister also rejected reports about
the dispatch of new Iranian forces to Syria, Iraq and other countries in the
region since the beginning of the ongoing war in Gaza but emphasized that
Tehran would not be a bystander with regard to regional developments.
Iran will make decisions based on its
own interests, national security and the regional situation, he added.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/30/713675/Iran-Palestine-Gaza-Israel-US-Amir-Abdollahian-Bloomberg-new-fronts-Hamas-Syria-fighters-
--------
Palestinian death toll from Israeli
attacks on Gaza crosses 8000
October 29, 2023
As Israeli forces are continue their
brutal bombardment and air strikes on Gaza Strip, the martyrdom toll of
Palestinians has risen to over eight thousand half of which is almost children.
UN human Rights Chief Volker Turk has
warned of the possibly catastrophic consequences of large-scale ground
operations in besieged enclave.
Hundreds of buildings and houses were
completely destroyed and thousands damaged in overnight strikes by Israeli
forces.
Thousands of Gaza residents broke into
warehouses and distribution centres of the United Nations Palestinian refugee
agency grabbing flour and “basic survival item.
Meanwhile, Saudi Defense Minister Prince
Khalid bin Salman is expected to meet with top US officials tomorrow in
Washington DC.
Meanwhile, More than one hundred and
thirty Palestinians were martyred and dozens of others injured in air strikes
carried out by Israel in Gaza on the 23rd consecutive day on Sunday.
Palestinian news agency WAFA in a
statement said there warplanes also bombed a six-story residential building in
the Tal al-Hawaneighborhood.
Israel also dropped bombs on homes in
the Al-Zaytoun, Al-Tuffah, and Shujaiyaneighborhoods.
There were airstrikes on homes in the
Jabalia refugee camp, and warplanes destroyed a residential square in Bir
al-Naja, north of the Gaza Strip.
Homes were also targeted in the cities
of Khan Yunis and Rafah.
Source: radio.gov.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.radio.gov.pk/29-10-2023/palestinian-death-toll-from-israeli-attacks-on-gaza-crosses-2000
-------
Israel committing 'flagrant genocide' in
Gaza: Iran Foreign Ministry
29 October 2023
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman says
the “child-killing” Israeli regime is committing genocide in the besieged Gaza
Strip.
In a post on his official X account on
Sunday, Nasser Kan’ani reacted to a Saturday announcement by Benjamin
Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, who blatantly claimed the regime has the
most moral army in the world which does everything to avoid harm to
non-combatants.
70 percent of casualties in Gaza have
been children, women, and the elderly.
The death toll since the start of the
Israeli carnage on October 7 has surpassed 8,000 with upwards of 20,500 Palestinians
wounded.
In his post, Iran’s Foreign Ministry
spokesman published images of children killed by Israel in Gaza. “These photos
are just a very small example of the crimes committed by the criminal Zionist
regime’s army in the Gaza Strip.”
“The Zionists’ crimes in Gaza amount to
flagrant genocide.”
Israel has been attacking Gaza in the
wake of Operation Al-Aqsa Storm by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas on
October 7, which was in response to decades-long violence against Palestinians
and recurrent incursions into al-Aqsa Mosque.
Despite the unconscionable toll, on the
23rd day of the war on Gaza, Israel has declared that the war has “entered a
new phase.” On Friday, the Zionist forces intensified air, sea, and ground
attacks on the Gaza Strip.
The United Nations Children’s Agency
(UNICEF) has decried the “staggering” number of children casualties in Gaza.
Numerous international aid agencies
confirmed they lost contact with staff in Gaza after Israel knocked out
internet and communications in the occupied territory.
The UN General Assembly has called for
an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. 120 states voted for the
resolution, but the Israelis rejected the call.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/29/713646/Iran-Palestine-Israel-Kan-ani-Foreign-Ministry-spokesman-genocide-children-prime-minister-Netanyahu
-------
Iran, Qatar call for immediate end to
Israel’s aggression against Gaza
29 October 2023
Foreign ministers of Iran and Qatar have
called for an immediate end to the Israeli regime’s war of aggression against
the besieged Gaza Strip.
Iran's Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his
Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, made
the remark in a phone conversation on Sunday.
The two top diplomats discussed the
latest developments related to Palestine and the ongoing Israeli war on the
Gaza Strip.
The foreign ministers underlined the
need for an immediate halt to Israel’s indiscriminate strikes against the
blockaded Palestinian territory.
They also urged uninterrupted supply of
humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
Earlier the same day, Amir-Abdollahian
had a phone call with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
During the conversation, both sides
called for collective regional and international action to immediately end
Israel’s attacks on Palestinian civilians.
Israel has been pounding the besieged
territory from the ground, sea and air over the past 23 days.
The two foreign ministers emphasized
that Gaza is in dire need of constant humanitarian aid and that the forced
displacement of Palestinians by Israel needs to be countered.
The Israeli regime has been waging a
brutal war against Gaza since October 7, when Hamas and its fellow Gaza-based
resistance movement, the Islamic Jihad, launched their biggest operation
against the occupying entity in years. The surprise Palestinian offensive,
dubbed Operation al-Aqsa Storm, came in response to the regime’s intensified
crimes against Palestinian people.
The death toll in Gaza since the start
of Israeli aggression has exceeded 8,000, 70 percent of which includes women
and children.
Despite the unconscionable toll, on the
23rd day of the war on Gaza, Israel declared that the war has “entered a new
phase,” following which it intensified air, sea, and ground attacks on the Gaza
Strip.
The UN General Assembly has called for
an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza with 120 member states voting for
the resolution. Israel, however, has rejected the call.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/29/713667/Iran-Qatar-call-immediate-end-Israel-aggression-against-Gaza
---------
UNICEF: Gaza children in ‘catastrophic
situation’ as Israeli war rages on
30 October 2023
The United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF) has expressed concerns about the “catastrophic situation” of
Palestinian children in the besieged Gaza Strip, which has been under a
genocidal Israeli bombing campaign for over three weeks.
UNICEF spokesperson Toby Fricker said
the number of children killed in Gaza is catastrophic.
“The situation for children is
horrific,” he said an interview with Al Jazeera TV channel on Sunday, calling
for the protection of Gaza hospitals from relentless Israeli airstrikes, the
establishment of safe humanitarian corridors, and the continuous and
sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid to the people in the coastal enclave.
In another interview with France 24,
Fricker said the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is “staggering”.
The Gaza children, he noted, are
petrified about the situation that they are living through in the
densely-populated territory.
Israel waged the bloody war on the Gaza
Strip on October 7 after the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement launched the
surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity.
Since the start of the war, the Tel Aviv
regime has been committing war crimes in Gaza, killing at least 8,069
Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring over 22,000 others.
It has also imposed a “complete siege”
on the territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food and water to the more
than two million Palestinians living in the coastal sliver.
ICC prosecutor: Israel should ensure
Gazans’ access to basic items
Additionally on Sunday, the
International Criminal Court’s (ICC) top prosecutor urged Israel to make
“discernible efforts” to make sure civilians get basic food and medicines.
Speaking at a news conference in Egypt,
Karim Khan said impeding aid to Gaza could be a crime under ICC jurisdiction.
“There should not be any impediment to
humanitarian relief supplies going to children, to women and men, civilians,”
he emphasized.
“They are innocent, they have rights
under international humanitarian law,” Khan said, warning that curtailing those
rights give rise to criminal responsibility under the ICC’s Rome Statute.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/30/713680/UNICEF-Gaza-children-horrific-situation-amid-Israel-war
---------
47 mosques, 3 churches damaged in Gaza
Strip since Oct 7: Media office
Mahmoud Barakat
30.10.2023
Abdelsalam Fayez
Continuous Israeli attacks on the Gaza
Strip since Oct. 7 have led to the destruction of 47 mosques and damage to
three churches, the local government media office said Sunday.
“Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip have
caused the destruction of 47 mosques and damaged three churches and 203 schools
in addition to 80 government buildings,” the director of the office, Salama
Maarouf, said at a press conference.
He said the number of medical personnel
killed had reached 116 along with 18 members of rescue teams and civil defense
crews and 35 journalists.
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/47-mosques-3-churches-damaged-in-gaza-strip-since-oct-7-media-office/3037519
-------
Dagestan: Muslim rioters gather at
airport to attack Israeli passengers
Oct 29, 2023
Muslim rioters came to the international
airport in Makhachkala, the capital of the Russian republic of Dagestan on
Sunday evening, in order to harm Jewish Israelis.
The crowds waited for an Israeli flight
that was supposed to arrive and checked vehicles leaving the airport to try and
find Israeli or Jewish passengers.
Footage from the scene shows crowds
chanting "Allahu Akbar," and according to reports, they also chanted
antisemitic chants.
The flight, which took off from Ben
Gurion International Airport in Israel and was scheduled to land in
Makhachkala, was rerouted and landed at a different airport.
According to local reports, the rioters
also began to search for Israelis and Jews near the airport as well.
The incident occurred amid Israel's war
in Gaza and the spike in antisemitism around the globe.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Prime Minister's Office stated: "The State of Israel views with utmost
gravity attempts to harm Israeli citizens and Jews anywhere.
The Prime Minister's Office, the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Security Council are monitoring
the development of events in southern Russia, in the Dagestan district. Israel
expects the Russian legal authorities to safeguard the well-being of all
Israeli citizens and Jews wherever they are and to take strong action against
the rioters and against the wild incitement being directed against Jews and
Israelis.
Israeli Ambassador to Russia Alex Ben
Zvi is working with the Russian authorities to secure the well-being of Jews
and Israelis at the site."
Shortly after midnight, it was announced
that the incident ended without Israeli casualties.
Ukrainian President VolodymyrZelenskyy
reacted to the riot in his rival state in a post on X: "Appalling videos
from Makhachkala, Russia, where an angry mob broke into the airport searching
for Israeli citizens on the flight from Tel-Aviv. This is not an isolated
incident in Makhachkala but rather part of Russia’s widespread culture of
hatred toward other nations, which is propagated by state television, pundits,
and authorities. The Russian foreign minister has made a series of antisemitic
remarks in the last year. The Russian President also used antisemitic slurs.
For Russian propaganda talking heads on official television, hate rhetoric is
routine. Even the most recent Middle East escalation prompted antisemitic
statements from Russian ideologists. Russian antisemitism and hatred toward
other nations are systemic and deeply rooted. Hatred is what drives aggression
and terror. We must all work together to oppose hatred."
A senior security source discussed the
riots at the airport in Dagestan and said that the incident is still not over.
He added that a relatively small amount
of Israelis and Jews are still separated and under security at the airport.
"We are working for them to depart
from there on a flight to Moscow the moment conditions permit. Israeli security
officials and the Israeli Ambassador are working with the local security
authorities. The issue is being dealt with on the relevant axes."
The Russian authorities are warning the
rioters at the international airport in Makhachkala that anyone participating
in the riots will be identified using CC footage in the airport and surrounding
areas: "Whoever incites ethnic violence and hate will be tried."
Source: israelnationalnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/379362
--------
Hamas says ‘heavy fighting’ in Gaza as
Israel steps up ground war
October 30, 2023
GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories:
Hamas said it was engaged in “heavy fighting” with Israeli troops inside
northern Gaza Sunday, as besieged residents were again warned to flee southward.
After weeks of ferocious airstrikes,
Israel has declared a new “stage” in a war that Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu warned would be “long and difficult.”
Late Sunday Israel’s military released
footage that purported to show a significant number of tanks, infantry and
artillery operating in Palestinian territory.
The military claimed to have struck more
than “450 terror targets, including operational command centers, observation
posts, and anti-tank missile launch posts.”
Hamas said its Ezzedine Al-Qassam
Brigades were already “engaged in heavy fighting... with the invading
occupation forces.”
With a fierce door-to-door urban war
expected, Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari told Palestinian civilians to go
south “to a safer area.”
It is now 23 days since Hamas gunmen
launched a wave of bloody cross-border raids against homes, communities, farms
and security posts inside Israel.
An estimated 1,400 people, mostly
civilians, were killed and 239 people were taken hostage, according to the
latest Israeli tallies.
Israel has vowed to free the hostages,
track down those responsible and “eradicate” Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist
movement that has governed Gaza since 2007.
But there is deep and growing
international concern about the toll of Israel’s campaign on Gaza’s two-plus
million residents.
The territory is under siege, with
people unable to leave and only a limited amount of humanitarian aid allowed
in.
Meanwhile, Israel has carried out one of
the most intense bombing campaigns in recent memory.
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza
says more than 8,000 people, mainly civilians and half of them children have
already been killed.
Inside Gaza’s maze of streets, rubble
and hulled-out buildings, there is a growing sense of panic, fear and
desperation.
Ibrahim Shandoughli, a 53-year-old from
Jabaliya in northern Gaza, asked why he would head south when that area is also
being bombed.
“Where do you want us to evacuate to?
All the areas are dangerous,” he said.
Etidal Al-Masri was among those who fled
after Israel told residents in the north to leave.
But she still struggles to find even the
basics amid shortages of food, water and medicine.
Gazans “must now queue for bread,
toilets and even for sleep,” she said.
On Sunday, the desperation appeared to
boil over.
The United Nations reported that
“thousands of people” had ransacked several of its warehouses looking for
tinned food, flour, oil and hygiene supplies.
Only a trickle of aid has been allowed
to cross the border from Egypt.
The UN said 33 trucks carrying water,
food, and medical supplies had entered Gaza on October 29.
It is one of the largest deliveries to
date, but still far short of the 100-a-day aid groups say is needed.
International Criminal Court lead
prosecutor Karim Khan told Israel on Sunday that preventing access to
humanitarian aid could be a “crime.”
“Impeding relief supplies as provided by
the Geneva conventions may constitute a crime within the court jurisdiction,”
Khan told reporters in Cairo.
He said he wanted “to underline clearly
to Israel that there must be discernible efforts without further delay to make
sure civilians” in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory “receive basic food,
medicines.”
In a phone call with Netanyahu on
Sunday, US President Joe Biden also underscored the need to “immediately and
significantly” increase the flow of aid.
And while the White House has welcomed
the gradual return of cell phone and Internet services that had been cut for
days, it had a sharp warning for Israel’s leaders.
The “burden” lies with Israel to distinguish
between militants and innocent civilians in Gaza, US National Security Adviser
Jake Sullivan told CNN.
This as the United Nations said all
hospitals in the north of Gaza had received evacuation orders, despite
sheltering thousands of patients and more than 117,000 people who had become
internally displaced because of the bombardment.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society
reported repeated strikes around Al-Quds hospital in central Gaza.
Mohamed Al-Talmas, who has taken shelter
in Gaza’s biggest hospital Al-Shifa, said “the ground shook” with intense
Israeli raids.
Washington has also expressed deep
concern about the war spilling over, as Israel’s enemies — and in particular an
Iran-allied “axis of resistance” — step up actions across the Middle East.
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi has
warned Israel’s “crimes have crossed the red lines, which may force everyone to
take action.”
Since Hamas’s attack on October 7,
Iran-backed groups have launched attacks from Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria.
Skirmishes have intensified on the
Israeli-Lebanese border with Iran-backed Hamas ally Hezbollah.
On Sunday militants in south Lebanon
fired rockets toward Israel, which has responded with strikes.
The Israel Defense Forces also said they
had “struck military infrastructure in Syrian territory” in response to
launches “toward Israeli territory.”
Inside Israel, where shocked residents
still face daily rocket attacks, much of the focus is on the hostages abducted
by Hamas.
Hamas has released four prisoners and
offered to release more as part of a swap for Palestinians detained in Israel.
It has also claimed “almost 50” hostages
were killed by Israeli strikes — a claim that was impossible to verify but has
caused anguish to those praying for their loved ones to return.
“We demanded that no action be taken
that endangers the fate of our family members,” said MeiravLeshemGonen, the
mother of hostage RomiGonen.
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant
accused Hamas of playing “psychological games.”
“Hamas is cynically using those who are
dear to us — they understand the pain and the pressure,” he said.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2399831/middle-east
---------
Hezbollah says it has downed an Israeli
drone in south Lebanon
October 30, 2023
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Hezbollah said on
SundaUN says at least 33 aid trucks entered Gaza on Sundayzy it shot down an
Israeli drone over southern Lebanon with a surface-to-air missile, the first
time it has announced such an incident, as clashes on the Lebanese border
escalate.
The drone was hit near Khiam, about 5 km
(3 miles) from the border with Israel, and was seen falling in Israeli
territory, Hezbollah added. Two security sources in Lebanon said it was the
first time Hezbollah had announced downing an Israeli drone.
The Israeli Defense Ministry did not
provide comment. Israel’s military, which claimed more strikes on what it
described as Hezbollah targets on Sunday, also did not comment.
MohanadHage Ali, of the Carnegie Middle
East Center, said Hezbollah has “insinuated they have this capability but it is
the first time they declare they have this kind of capability to shoot down a
drone.”
Earlier on Sunday, the United Nations’
Lebanon peacekeeping force UNIFIL said that one of its members was injured
after shells hit its base near the village of Houla on the Lebanese-Israeli
border on Saturday.
The Israeli military and the
Iranian-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon have been exchanging fire on a daily
basis since the start of the Gaza conflict three weeks ago.
On Sunday, the military said its troops
struck a cell in southern Lebanon that attempted to fire anti-tank missiles
toward Israel, and that its aircraft struck Hezbollah targets in response to
projectile launches from Lebanese territory.
Some 46 Hezbollah fighters have been
killed and 43 injured in the borderlands so far, the group said, adding it had
conducted 84 attacks at 42 points along the border since the start of the
clashes. Israel’s military says at least seven of its soldiers have been killed
so far.
UNIFIL said on Saturday that its
headquarters near the Lebanese coastal town of Naqoura was also damaged by a
shell that landed inside the base.
“UNIFIL expresses serious concern over
these two attacks on our troops who are tirelessly working 24/7 to restore
stability in southern Lebanon and de-escalate this perilous situation, ” the
force wrote on social media platform X.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2399826/middle-east
--------
UN says at least 33 aid trucks entered
Gaza on Sunday
Oct 30, 2023
TEHRAN, Oct. 30 (MNA) – The UN’s
humanitarian organisation, OCHA, has announced that 33 trucks carrying water,
food and medical supplies entered Gaza on Sunday through the Rafah border
crossing with Egypt.
The Israeli regime has been waging a
barbaric war against Gaza since October 7, when Hamas-led Palestinian
Resistance groups launched their biggest operation against the Zionist regime
in years. The sneak attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, came in response to
the regime’s intensified crimes against the Palestinian people.
The Israeli war has so far claimed the
lives of over 8,000 innocent Palestinians, including more than 3,000 children,
and left upwards of 20,500 others wounded.
The United Nations General Assembly
overwhelmingly passed a resolution on Friday, calling for the implementation of
an immediate "humanitarian truce" in Gaza. The Israeli regime has
rejected all calls for a ceasefire, claiming it would benefit Hamas.
The following are the latest updates:
Israeli strikes destroyed 47 mosques,
damaged 7 churches
The ongoing Israeli regime's air attacks
in Gaza have destroyed 47 mosques and seven churches since October 7.
Gaza’s media office said that 203
schools and 80 government offices were also destroyed in the last three weeks.
Salama Maarouf, the director of the
office, was quoted by Al Jazeera Arabic as saying that 220,000 housing units
were damaged due to the massive bombardment, and 32,000 buildings were
completely destroyed.
Israeli forces kill 3 Palestinian men in
violent raids across occupied West Bank
UN says at least 33 aid trucks entered
Gaza on Sunday
The Israeli regime's forces have killed
three more Palestinian young men during violent raids across the occupied West
Bank.
On Sunday, the regime's forces attacked
the Balata refugee camp, east of the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank,
wounding a Palestinian named Rasmi Arafat.
"Medical sources at the An-Najah
Hospital said Arafat succumbed to the injuries he had sustained during
confrontations with Israeli forces," the report added.
Later in the day and in the southern
West Bank, Zionist forces attacked the Dheisheh refugee camp, south of the city
of Bethlehem, fatally shooting Yousef Rabee' in the head, PressTV reported.
Medical sources said the 25-year-old
Palestinian man was taken to Beit Jala Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Zionist troops also conducted a raid
against the northern West Bank city of Jenin.
According to local sources, the raid saw
more than 100 Israeli regime's military vehicles storming the city from several
directions, accompanied by two military bulldozers.
The regime's forces then surrounded the
Ibn Sina Hospital, deploying snipers on rooftops of the buildings around the
facility before firing live bullets at Palestinians. An Israeli regime's spying
drone also flew over the city.
The attack killed another Palestinian
youth, identified as Amir Abdullah Sharbaji, and wounded six others, one of
them seriously.
Israeli regime's forces also ran over
another Palestinian young man who was taken to hospital for treatment.
UN says at least 33 aid trucks entered Gaza
on Sunday
The UN’s humanitarian organization,
OCHA, has announced that 33 trucks carrying water, food, and medical supplies
entered Gaza on Sunday through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.
“This is the largest delivery of
humanitarian aid since 21 October, when limited deliveries resumed,” OCHA said
early on Monday.
No fuel deliveries, however, have been
made despite pleas from hospitals, which have been mostly operating on power
generators after electricity to the territory was cut down by the Israeli
regime.
To date, 117 trucks have entered Gaza
through the crossing since limited deliveries resumed to the crowded
Palestinian territory of more than 2.3 million people, according to Al Jazeera.
Before the siege, some 500 trucks
carrying aid and other goods entered Gaza every day.
Source: mehrnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://en.mehrnews.com/news/207730/UN-says-at-least-33-aid-trucks-entered-Gaza-on-Sunday
--------
Fears of air strike on Al-Quds Hospital
grow as Israeli forces advance in Gaza
October 30, 2023
Israeli troops backed by tanks pressed
into northern Gaza on Monday, conducting intense air and artillery strikes on
Palestinians amid louder international calls for civilian protection.
The strikes targeted areas near Gaza
City's Al-Shifa and Al-Quds hospitals, while Hamas fighters clashed with
Israeli forces in a border area east of Khan Younis, according to Palestinian
media.
After the Israeli government ordered
additional ground incursions across Gaza's eastern border two days earlier, the
Israeli government released photographs of war tanks on the western coast of
the Palestinian enclave, hinting at a possible attempt to surround the city.
This was followed by the bombardment of Gaza for many hours.
Israel's army said a new
"stage" of the war started with ground incursions since late Friday,
an escalation from two brief operations earlier in the week. However, this
phase has largely been kept from public view, with forces moving under darkness
and a telecommunications blackout cutting off Palestinians.
According to AFP, telecommunication cuts
appeared to ease on Sunday but had severely hampered rescue operations for
casualties of Israeli barrages.
Evacuation warnings to Al Quds, Al Shifa
Hospital
The reported strikes near hospitals came
after the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PCRS) said on Sunday that it had
received warnings from Israeli authorities to immediately evacuate al-Quds
hospital, where some 14,000 people have sought shelter.
Mohamed al-Talmas, who has taken shelter
in Gaza's biggest hospital Shifa, said "the ground shook" with
intense Israeli raids.
"No one knew where they (strikes)
were coming from — north, south, east or west."
Israel has accused Hamas of locating
command centres and other military infrastructure in Gaza hospitals, something
the group denies.
Palestinian officials said around 50,000
people had also taken shelter in Shifa Hospital, adding that they were
concerned about ongoing Israeli threats to the facility.
Israel has tightened its blockade and
bombarded Gaza since Hamas gunmen stormed across the border into Israel on
October 7, killing some 1,400 people and taking at least 239 hostages,
according to Israeli reports.
Meanwhile, as a result of Israeli
retaliatory strikes, over 8,000 Palestinians have been martyred including more
than 3,000 children.
Panic and fear have surged inside the
Palestinian territory, where the UN says more than half of its 2.4 million
residents are displaced and thousands of buildings destroyed.
Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine
al-Qassam Brigades, said on Sunday its fighters were "engaged in heavy
fighting... with the invading occupation (Israeli) forces in northwest
Gaza".
Aid 'acceleration'
In a phone call with Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, US President Joe Biden "underscored
the need to immediately and significantly increase the flow of humanitarian
assistance to meet the needs of civilians in Gaza", according to a readout
of the conversation from the White House.
Additionally, in a separate call with
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt, which borders Gaza to the south, the
two leaders "committed to the significant acceleration and increase of
assistance", the White House said.
UN chief Antonio Guterres said the
situation was "growing more desperate by the hour" as casualties
increase and essential supplies of food, water, medicine and shelter dwindle.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees,
UNRWA, warned that "civil order" was starting to collapse as
"thousands of people" broke into several of its warehouses and
distribution centres in Gaza, grabbing basic items like flour and hygiene
supplies.
"This is a worrying sign that civil
order is starting to break down," it said.
A US government official, speaking on condition
of anonymity, said earlier Israel was committed to allowing 100 aid trucks into
Gaza daily — a figure the UN has said was needed to meet the most basic needs.
US urges Israel to protect Gaza
civilians
The bloodshed saw the Biden
administration warn Israel on Sunday that it must protect civilian lives.
While the US ally has the right to
defend itself, it must do so "in a manner consistent with international
humanitarian law that prioritises the protection of civilians," Biden told
Netanyahu in a phone call, the White House said.
He spoke after his national security
adviser, Jake Sullivan, told CNN that Israel "should be taking every
possible means available to them to distinguish between Hamas — terrorists, who
are legitimate military targets — and civilians, who are not."
Moreover, Britain's Prime Minister Rishi
Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron "stressed the importance of
getting urgent humanitarian support" into the Palestinian territory.
Sunak and Macron spoke by telephone and
"agreed to work together on efforts both to get crucial food, fuel, water
and medicine to those who need it and to get foreign nationals out," said
a Downing Street spokesperson.
On social media, Macron reiterated a
call for a humanitarian truce.
"17 tons of humanitarian freight
have arrived in Egypt from France. We are continuing our efforts by air and
sea... alongside Egypt and the Red Crescent," he said.
Earlier, Guterres said he regretted that
"instead of a critically needed humanitarian pause, supported by the
international community, Israel has intensified its military operations."
"The world is witnessing a
humanitarian catastrophe," Guterres added on a visit to Nepal's capital
Kathmandu. "I urge all those with responsibility to step back from the
brink."
Working to free hostages
Though the US remains Israel's strongest
ally, the Biden administration has insisted that Israeli leaders alone decide
its military operations and publicly multiplied appeals to spare the lives of
Palestinian civilians.
The White House also revealed Sunday
that it had "worked on" bids to turn communications in Gaza back on.
The restoration of communications was
"critical," the official White House account posted on X, formerly
Twitter.
"Aid workers, civilians, and
journalists need to be able to communicate with each other and the rest of the
world. Our Administration cared about this, worked on it, and are glad to see
it restored," the post continued.
Sullivan, speaking on ABC's "This
Week" as he made a round of Sunday talk shows, slammed Hamas's own
treatment of civilians, calling them a "brutal terrorist
organisation" that is "hiding behind the civilian population."
"But it doesn't lessen their (Israel's)
responsibility under international humanitarian law and the laws of war to do
all in their power to protect the civilian population," he said.
Sullivan also said that US officials are
working to help secure the release of more than 220 hostages being held in Gaza
by Hamas, as well as to help the hundreds of Palestinian Americans stuck in
Gaza.
'All areas are dangerous'
Israel's military said Sunday that it
had struck hundreds of Hamas targets and increased its ground forces in Gaza.
Military spokesman Hagari vowed to "chase down" Hamas's leader in
Gaza, Yahya Sinwar.
The army said troops had
"confronted" Hamas fighters who emerged out of a tunnel in north
Gaza, highlighting challenges in Hamas's vast underground network to Israel's
ground operation.
In a late-night televised address on
Saturday, Netanyahu announced a "second stage of the war" to
"eradicate" Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007.
Communications were down in Gaza after
Israel cut internet lines ahead of the intensification of its operations,
although connectivity was gradually returning on Sunday.
The "burden" lies with Israel
to distinguish between Hamas and innocent civilians in Gaza, US National
Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told CNN television.
Hagari again urged Palestinian civilians
to go south "to a safer area", but residents remained wary as
airstrikes continued.
Ibrahim Shandoughli, a 53-year-old from
Jabaliya in northern Gaza, told AFP he and his family went nowhere.
"Where do you want us to evacuate
to? All the areas are dangerous."
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1124239-fears-of-air-strikes-on-al-quds-hospital-grow-as-israeli-forces-advance-in-gaza
--------
Raisi says Gazans have written great
epic in confronting brutal crimes of Zionists
[30/October/2023]
TEHRAN October 30. 2023 (Saba) - Iranian
President Ibrahim Raisi has said that the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip,
despite the injustice they are being subjected to, were able to write a great
epic and stand with all might in the face of the brutal crimes of the Zionist
entity.
Raisi noted the sympathy of Muslims
around the world for the oppressed Palestinian people describing the positive
vote on the UN General Assembly resolution condemning the crimes of the Zionist
entity, despite the threats of hegemonic powers, as a major achievement.
The Iranian President pointed out the
importance of efforts aimed at holding a summit of heads of member states of
the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Raisi stressed the need for these
efforts to continue until the desired results are achieved.
Source: saba.ye
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3276323.htm
--------
Arab World
Saudi FM discusses Gaza crisis with
French, Iranian counterparts
October 29, 2023
DUBAI: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince
Faisal bin Farhan on Sunday held separate talks with his French and Iranian
counterparts about the crisis in the Gaza Strip.
During his call with French minister
Catherine Colonna, the prince thanked her country for supporting Friday’s UN
resolution aimed at bringing about an immediate ceasefire and the establishment
of a humanitarian truce on the Israel-Hamas war.
And in a conversation with Iran’s
Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, Prince Faisal discussed developments
in Gaza and the importance of the international community effecting a ceasefire
to protect civilian lives.
On Sunday, the Saudi foreign ministry
said Prince Faisal also held calls with counterparts from Spain, South Africa,
Belgium, Sri Lanka, Luxembourg and Malta on the Gaza conflict.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2399531/saudi-arabia
-------
Saudi Arabia says Sudan peace talks in
Jeddah to focus on aid delivery, ceasefire
October 29, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and the US, in
partnership with the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on
Development, released a statement on talks between Sudan’s warring parties on
Sunday, aimed at ending a conflict that has been raging for over six months.
The US- and Saudi-brokered negotiations
are taking place in Jeddah between representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces
and the Rapid Support Forces.
Among the topics discussed were the
delivery of humanitarian aid and achieving a ceasefire, according to SPA.
“The talks will not address issues of a
political nature,” the statement said.
It added that, “as per an agreement with
Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, the facilitators will be
the sole joint spokesperson for the talks and to establish the rules of conduct
that have been agreed upon by both parties and that will guide the talks.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2399491/saudi-arabia
-------
Haram presidency: Eclipse prayer not
offered due to inability to see moon in cloudy atmosphere \
October 29, 2023
JEDDAH — The Presidency of Religious
Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque clarified that the
inability to see the lunar eclipse due to clouds was the reason for not
offering eclipse prayers at the Two Holy Mosques on Saturday night.
The presidency attributed this to the
Tradition of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that linked offering the eclipse
prayer to the sight of the eclipse. It quoted the Prophet’s (PBUH) saying as
narrated by Ibn Majah: “The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of the
death of one of the people. So if you see them, stand up and offer prayer.” In
another Hadith, narrated by Ibn Omar, the Prophet said: “The sun and the moon
do not eclipse because of the death or life (birth) of someone but they are two
signs amongst the signs of Allah. When you see them offer the prayer.”
In a statement on its official X
account, the presidency said that the Islamic jurists and scholars have
emphasized this fact with regard to eclipse prayers. It is noteworthy that a
partial lunar eclipse happened in Saudi Arabia for an hour and 17 minutes
between 10:35 pm and 11:52 pm on Saturday but it was not visible because of the
cloudy atmosphere. Most regions of Saudi Arabia experienced moderate to heavy
rain on Saturday.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/637172/SAUDI-ARABIA/Haram-presidency-Eclipse-prayer-not-offered-due-to-inability-to-see-moon-in-cloudy-atmosphere-nbsp
---------
Saudi Attorney General meets with
Chinese counterpart
October 30, 2023
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's Attorney General
Sheikh Saud Abdullah Al Muajeb has met in Riyadh with his Chinese counterpart
Ying Yong and reviewed with him bilateral relations between the two judicial
bodies.
The Chinese procurator-general is on an
official visit to Saudi Arabia with a high-level delegation from the Supreme
People's Procuratorate of China.
During the meeting, Ying watched a
presentation on the legislative and institutional development in Saudi Arabia, and
a summary of its judicial system, as well as an overview of the Public
Prosecution.
The presentation also included an
introduction to the digital governance practices implemented by the Saudi
Public Prosecution in handling criminal cases, and indicators of achievement of
the judicial and procedural work undertaken by its members.
The official visit aims to enhance
bilateral relations, review the most notable joint parliamentary and justice
work, and discuss ways of strengthening legal cooperation between the two
bodies to achieve judicial progress in Saudi Arabia and China.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/637196/SAUDI-ARABIA/Saudi-nbspAttorney-General-nbspmeets-with-Chinese-counterpart-nbsp
-------
Pakistan
Massive pro-Palestine protests lament
state ‘inaction’ on Gaza situation
October 30, 2023
ISLAMABAD: The government’s position on
the situation in Gaza was criticised on Sunday as tens of thousands of people
attended protests organised to condemn Israeli atrocities against Palestinians.
The biggest gathering was held by
Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) at the Embassy Road in Islamabad, attended by thousands of
party workers and leaders.Addressing the gathering, JI emir Sirajul Haq
lamented the government for not playing the role which was required on the Gaza
issue.
He also questioned the inaction of
Muslim rulers and warned that history and the Ummah “would not forgive the
rulers of the Islamic world if they failed to take practical steps to safeguard
the people of Palestine”.
The JI chief called for an immediate
ceasefire in Gaza, demanding that Washington rescind its support for Israel.
JI, JUI-F, PML-Q hold rallies; Fazl,
Siraj censure own government, Muslim world on ‘weak stance’
“Israel’s violation of all international
laws and norms and its defiance of the UN General Assembly’s call for a
ceasefire has been further aggravated by the launch of a ground assault on
Gaza.”
He expressed concern over the mounting death
toll and pointed out the disruption of internet services in the besieged
region.
Earlier, the party had planned to hold
the demonstration outside the US embassy, but the venue was changed after the
district administration arrested around 20 party workers on Saturday.
Criticising the administration’s
crackdown against JI workers, Mr Haq said the government was “frightened when
we announced the march in front of the US Embassy” and called it “unfortunate”.
“I want to ask who do you want to make
happy. It was impossible for us to withdraw the call of the march,” he said,
while claiming that the police “brutally tortured” several JI workers.
The JUI-F’s protest in Quetta was
addressed by the party’s emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
He said the US was “no longer a
superpower” and that the government should remove the “shackles of US slavery
and stand up against it”.
“...[W]hy aren’t our leaders openly
declaring support for the Muslims of Gaza,” he asked while addressing the
gathering at Ayub Stadium.
“If our rulers continue to show
cowardice today, then the Pakistani nation will stand against its rulers.”
He highlighted the need to convene a
meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to adopt a new stance in
accordance with the changing situation in Gaza.
Hamas leader Naji Zaheer also addressed
the event and said the people of Palestine would not surrender and fight for
their separate state.
PML-Q protest in Lahore
In Lahore, PML-Q staged a demonstration
outside the Lahore Press Club to express solidarity with the Palestinians.
Several party workers and citizens
participated in the protest and chanted slogans against Israel’s oppression and
attacks on innocent people, including women and children.
In his address, PML-Q chief organiser
Chaudhry Sarwar said world nations should take note of Israel’s attacks on Gaza
and the Gazans’ lives and property must be protected.
He said the Muslim world should
effectively use the Security Council to halt Israel’s attacks on Gaza. “If
Israel does not follow UN resolutions, then sanctions should be imposed on it.”
He also stressed the Muslim Ummah’s
unity to advocate for an independent Palestinian state. “We will continue
standing by the Palestinian people until their liberation.”
Mr Sarwar said the US and European
governments were standing with Israel, but their citizens, and those of
European countries, were expressing solidarity with Gazans.
Regretting the Israeli oppression in
Gaza, he stressed the Muslim world should not act as a silent spectator. He
claimed Israel had illegally occupied some 75 per cent of the land of
Palestine.
As a member of the British parliament,
he said he had visited Palestine 10 times and saw that over 2.2 million people
in Gazan were living in an open jail.
“Children were dying due to gun fires and
hunger, while there was no medical aid available to them,” he said.
IkramJunaidi in Islamabad, Saleem Shahid
in Quetta and Mansoor Malik in Lahore also contributed to this report.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1784869/massive-pro-palestine-protests-lament-state-inaction-on-gaza-situation
---------
Ready For Jihad Along With People Of
Palestine: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl Chief
October 30, 2023
QUETTA: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF)
chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced on Sunday his party and the people of
Pakistan at large were “ready for jihad with the people of Palestine”.
Addressing a public meeting here, Fazl
said the entire Pakistani nation stands with its Palestinian brethren. “Until
Palestine gets its freedom, Pakistani people and our workers are standing with
them,” he announced.
Fazl strongly condemned the Israeli
atrocities against innocent and unarmed Palestinians and pledged to support the
Palestinian people at every front.
He urged the international community to
raise its voice against the ongoing brutal actions of Israel in Palestine.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman also urged the
Muslim nations to unite to resolve the long-standing conflict in Palestine. He
said Sunday’s conference had sent a strong message to the entire world and
Muslim rulers that “we are standing with the Palestinian brothers”.
The JUIF chief said that after the US
attack on Afghanistan, they were told that they had no rights. “There is a
clear ideological division in the world: what they call terrorists, are in fact
Mujahideen,” he added.
He said the USA was no longer a
superpower and regretted that Indian premier Narendra Modi was standing openly
with Israel, which was committing atrocities in Gaza.
Maulana Fazl asked why the Pakistani
government did not announce it was standing with the Muslims of Gaza. “If we do
not fight for the freedom of Palestine, then we are still slaves,” the Maulana
said.
He regretted that thousands of children
had been martyred, but the world saw no human rights violations in Gaza. Fazl
demanded that a meeting of the OIC should be called and a unanimous decision
taken against Israel.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1124184-ready-for-jihad-along-with-people-of-palestine-fazl
-------
JUI-F Chief condemns Israeli atrocities
against Palestinians
October 29, 2023
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief
Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that the entire Pakistani nation stands with its
Palestinian brethern.
Addressing a public rally in Quetta on
Saturday to express solidarity with Palestine, he strongly condemned the
Israeli atrocities against innocent and unarmed Palestinians.
He urged the international community to
raise its voice against the ongoing brutalities of Israel in Palestine.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman also urged Muslim
nations to unite to resolve the long-standing conflict in Palestine.
Source: radio.gov.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.radio.gov.pk/29-10-2023/jui-f-chief-condemns-israeli-atrocities-against-innocent-palestinians
-------
Fazl urges rulers to break free from
‘American slavery’
October 30, 2023
QUETTA:JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman
has said that the era of the United States’ superpower status was over, urging
Pakistani rulers to break free from the bonds of American slavery and stand up
against it.
Citing the open support of Indian Prime
Minister Narendra Modi for Israel, he questioned why Pakistani leaders were not
openly declaring support for the Muslims of Gaza.
Speaking at the Al-Aqsa Flood Conference
in Ayub Stadium, Quetta, on Sunday, the JUI-F emir expressed concerns about the
worsening situation of the Palestinian people and criticised the world's
silence toward Israel's injustices.
"If we don't stand with the
oppressed people of Palestine today, we should be prepared to accept that we
were slaves yesterday and are still slaves today,” he added.
He further warned that if rulers
continued to “show cowardice”, the Pakistani nation would rise against them. He
lauded the conference which he said aimed to send a clear message to Israel and
the United States that Pakistan stood in solidarity with its Palestinian
brothers.
The honour of the Pakistani people is
tied to the honour of the Palestinians, he declared. Furthermore, the JUI-F
chief alleged that the “global Jewish lobby's agenda in Pakistan has been
defeated”, a strong message to those “who sought to influence the country”.
Maulana Fazl further criticised the US
for its treatment of the mujahideen in Afghanistan. He highlighted the stark
contrast between the alleged disregard for human rights by the US.
He alleged that the US's justification
for attacking Afghanistan was based on the belief that the mujahideen had no
human rights and were undeserving of even prisoner rights.
The JUI-F criticised Israel for adopting
a similar stance towards the mujahideen of Hamas, claiming that they too were
being denied basic human rights. "There is a stark division of ideology in
the world," he stated.
Directing his words towards Pakistan's
rulers, the Maulana declared that the US was no longer a superpower, urging the
rulers to break free from the bondage of American slavery.
He pointed out the open support shown by
Indian PM Modi to Israel and questioned why Pakistan's rulers were not openly
standing with the Muslims of Gaza. In a direct challenge to their authority, he
stated firmly, "Pakistani rulers should relish their luxurious lives in
their palaces; they do not represent us."
Source: tribune.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2443745/fazl-urges-rulers-to-break-free-from-american-slavery
--------
Maulana Tariq Jamil’s son dies of
gunshot wound
October 29, 2023
Imran Chaudhry
MIAN CHUNNU:
Asim Jamil, the son of renowned Islamic
scholar and preacher Maulana Tariq Jamil, died after sustaining a gunshot wound
to his chest at his farmhouse.
Dr Asif Imam of the Tulamba Hospital
confirmed the death.
According to sources, Asim was
exercising at his gym located in the farmhouse while a guard was standing alert
for his security. Asim took the pistol from the guard and shot himself in the
chest, they added.
Multan Regional Police Officer Capt
(retd) Muhammad Sohail Chaudhry said that according to the CCTV footage,
“Maulana Tariq Jamil’s son committed suicide as he snatched the pistol from his
guard during the middle of a workout and shot himself in the chest”.
RPO Sohail said Asim was suffering from
mental illness as he had been using mental health medicine for a long time.
He was married in a Niazi family of
Khanewal.
The sources said Maulana Tariq Jamil had
built Al-Hussain School in Tulamba, which was managed and run by Asim’s wife,
who was also the principal of the school, while Asim had neither completed
matriculation nor had he received any religious education.
Asim had divorced his wife two years
ago, had no children and was suffering from mental health problems, they added.
Earlier, Punjab Inspector General of
Police Dr Usman Anwar took notice of the incident and sought a report from
Multan RPO.
He said that the cause of death should
be determined in light of evidence and forensic report.
According to the Punjab police, Khanewal
DPO and senior police officers were present at the spot and evidence was being
collected.
The tragic news was shared by the
scholar himself on social media platform X, requesting prayers for the departed
soul
"My son Asim Jamil passed away
today in Tulamba. This accidental death has made the atmosphere sombre. All of
you are requested to remember us in your prayers on this sad occasion. May
Allah grant my son a high place in Jannatul Firdous," he said.
The death of Jamil’s son prompted
political and influential personalities to extend condolences.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq
Kakar expressed deep sorrow and grief over the death of Asim.
Kakar prayed for granting patience to
the bereaved family members.
“May Allah grant the deceased a place in
heaven and patience to the bereaved, Ameen.”
Former prime minister and PML-N
President Shehbaz Sharif said on social microblogging website X: “I express my
deepest condolences to Maulana Tariq Jamil and his family on the death of their
son Asim Jamil. We all share your grief over this accident. Indeed, this is an
unbearable grief. Our prayers and sympathies are with you. May Allah grant the
deceased a high place in His mercy and give patience to the family. Ameen.”
Caretaker Federal Minister for Information
Murtaza Solangi expressed sorrow over the death of Asim, expressing his
condolences to Maulana Jamil and his family members.
“The death of a young son is an
unbearable shock for a father,” Solangi said, adding that he shared the grief
of the family members.
National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz
Ashraf offered his heartfelt condolences on the unfortunate demise of Asim
Jamil.
In his message, he prayed for the
elevation of the departed soul, invoking the Almighty to grant solace and
fortitude to Maulana Tariq Jamil and his grieving family during this
challenging period.
Source: tribune.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2443594/maulana-tariq-jamils-son-dies-of-gunshot-wound
--------
Expulsion of illegal foreigners to be
carried out in phases: Pakistan’s interior minster
October 30, 2023
As the deadline for the expulsion of
illegal immigrants looms closer, Pakistan’s Interim Interior Minister Sarfraz
Bugti on Sunday said that the repatriation would be carried out in phases.
Bugti told Geo News that the first phase
will include the expulsion of illegal aliens — people with no travel documents
and those who misrepresented themselves as Pakistani citizens via forged
documentation — followed by those with proof of registration (POR), Afghan
citizenship and refugees registered with UNHCR.
Pakistan earlier this month, had
directed all illegal immigrants — including 1.73 million Afghan nationals — to
leave the country.
“Everyone [illegal foreigners] will have
to go back,” he added.
The government is encouraging the
“voluntary return” of aliens till the November 1 deadline after which the state
will commence its operation to expel them, the minister said while highlighting
that 15,000 to 20,000 illegal foreigners left Pakistan voluntarily between
Thursday and Friday.
Expressing his views on the total number
of foreigners in the country, Bugti highlighted that there are more than 3
million such individuals residing in Pakistan including illegal aliens, those
with proof of registration(POR) and refugees.
“All provincial governments will be part
of the operation […] committees have been formed on divisional, district
levels,” he said in a response to a question regarding the deportation of
illegal foreigners.
“Geo-mapping has been completed [to locate
illegal foreigners]. The government will target aliens wherever they are,” he
added.
He said: “This is not limited to Afghan
citizens […] We mention Afghanistan as unfortunately, most illegal foreigners
are from there.”
Responding to a question pertaining to
the implementation of the government’s policy to expel illegal foreigners,
Bugti said: “Yes there will be raids […] We have established holding centres.
Illegal foreigners will be brought to these centres where they will be taken
care of and provided for.”
“Authorities have been directed to treat
women, children and the elderly with the utmost respect,” he said, adding, “The
illegal foreigners will be shifted to the border [from the holding centres] in
three to four weekly batches.”
Source: ariananews.af
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.ariananews.af/expulsion-of-illegal-foreigners-to-be-carried-out-in-phases-pakistans-interior-minster/
-------
India
Two Thrashed For Shouting Slogans Near
Mosque In Nand Nagri
October 30, 2023
Two men on their way to join a Valmiki
Jayanti procession on Saturday evening were allegedly thrashed for shouting
slogans near a mosque in north-east Delhi’s Nand Nagri, the police said on
Sunday.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (North
East) Joy Tirkey said the victims, Ankit and Sidhu, were admitted to GTB
Hospital. A case has been filed and efforts are on to identify the accused, he
added.
The DCP said the two were among 10-12
people took a route different from the one assigned to join the procession and
drove their motorcycles through a mosque in Nand Nagri’s E block while shouting
slogans.
Most of them escaped, but Ankit and
Sidhu were intercepted by a group of men, who thrashed the duo in the ensuing
scuffle and damaged their motorcycles, he added.
“The altercation was not connected with
the procession, which concluded peacefully some time later. It was covered by
two Inspector-level officers and local police was deployed all over the area.
There were no motorcycles in the procession, all participants were either on
foot,” Mr. Tirkey said.
Source: thehindu.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/two-thrashed-for-shouting-slogans-near-mosque-in-nand-nagri/article67474370.ece
---------
Modi Calls Up Egyptian President,
Discusses Israeli Military Actions in Gaza
29/OCT/2023
New Delhi: After Israel expanded its
ground operations just as United Nations called for a ceasefire, Indian Prime
Minister Narendra Modi called up Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on
Saturday to discuss Israel’s military actions in Gaza and their impact on the
civilian population
While there was no official statement
released by India regarding the conversation, the office of the Egyptian
president provided a readout. According to the press release, El-Sisi
“received” the phone call from the Indian leader on Saturday.
“The two leaders exchanged views on the
latest developments in the Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip and
the gravity of the continuation of the current escalation, given its formidable
impact on the lives of civilians and the threat it poses to the security of the
entire region,” said the statement issued on Saturday.
Till now, Modi had spoken with Israeli
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and
Jordan’s King Abdullah.
The talk also takes place in the
backdrop of Israel’s unannounced ground invasion of Gaza strip, after 20 days
of retaliatory airstrikes which have reportedly left over 7,000 dead. The
latest escalation began after Hamas intruded into southern Israel, killing
around 1,200 people and taking over 200 hostages.
El-Sisi’s spokesperson said that the
Egyptian president briefed about Cairo’s efforts to “coordinate regional and
international efforts to push toward reaching a ceasefire”.
Incidentally, India on Saturday
abstained and did not back a resolution in the UN General Assembly that called
for a humanitarian “truce” to allow for unhindered supply of essential provisions
to Gaza Strip. The resolution had been tabled by Jordan on behalf of the Arab
group.
The Egyptian president warned of
“grievous humanitarian and security repercussions of a ground offensive on the
Gaza Strip”.
While not explicitly terming it as a
ground invasion, Israel has announced the start of the “second stage of the
war” with the Israeli military entering Gaza Strip on Friday.
Egypt, which shares a border with Gaza
and Israel, has been the focus of international effort to get humanitarian supplies
to civilians amidst the constant bombardment.
The Egyptian leader highlighted the
“critical need for unified international action to find a prompt solution at
the diplomatic level, that stipulates reinforcing an immediate humanitarian
truce that protects the lives of civilians and allows the instantaneous,
sustainable and unfettered delivery of humanitarian”.
His words echoed the provisions of the
UNGA resolution, which was adopted with 120 votes in favour, 14 against and 45
abstentions.
Among the developing world, known as the
Global South, India has been a outlier in not voting in favour of the
resolution.
Source: thewire.in
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://thewire.in/diplomacy/modi-calls-up-egyptian-president-discusses-israeli-military-actions-in-gaza
--------
Uttar Pradesh Man Shot Dead By a
Terrorist In Jammu And Kashmir's Pulwama
Oct 30, 2023
NEW DELHI: Tragedy struck on Monday as a
resident of Uttar Pradesh, fell victim to a terrorist attack in Pulwama
district, Jammu and Kashmir. The incident unfolded in the Rajpora area of
Pulwama, with Mukesh Singh being shot around 12:45 pm, according to a police
official.
This attack marked the second act of
terrorism within the Kashmir Valley in the past 24 hours.
Terrorists had shot at and critically
injured a police officer in Eidgah area of Srinagar. Inspector Masroor Ahmad
Wani was shot thrice while he was playing cricket with locals at the Eidgah
ground.
Be cautious: JK DGP to cops after Attack
on officer in Srinagar
Jammu and Kashmir Police chief Dilbag
Singh said threats are still around and cops have to be careful and cautious
about incidents like the attack on a police officer while playing cricket at a
playground.
“We have to be cautious. The threats are
still around; we cannot take these so lightly. We have to be careful, we have
to be cautious and I pray that he would come out of it,” Singh told reporters
on the sidelines of a function. He said the officer had gone to play cricket
when he was attacked by terrorists.
“One of our officers had gone out to
have some fun, play cricket with people. He was playing in a cricket ground
with a team of officers. He got a hit from (Anti-national elements) ANEs. He is
injured, he is recovering, he is in the hospital,” the DGP added.
Asked if Pakistan will try to disrupt
the atmosphere in view of forthcoming elections, Singh, without naming
Islamabad, said the neighbouring country has always tried to disturb peace in
Jammu and Kashmir.
“Elections or no elections, they (Pakistan)
have always been trying to disturb peace here, ensuring that the militancy
continues here but our brave force JKP with the support of other forces,
including army and people, have been able to eliminate that design and ill
intended actions by our adversary. I am sure that will continue,” the DGP said.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/uttar-pradesh-man-shot-dead-by-to-terrorist-in-jammu-and-kashmirs-pulwama/articleshow/104819973.cms
---------
‘Ray of hope’: How persistence led to
conviction of four Gujarat policemen who flogged Muslim men
Zafar Aafaq
October 30, 2023
When Mujahid Nafees saw a video of
policemen flogging nine Muslim men in a public square in Gujarat’s Kheda
district, he was shocked. “We had heard of horrible custodial torture, but this
seemed like the police had crossed a limit,” said Nafees, an Ahmedabad-based
activist.
After violence broke out at a garba
event in Undhela village in Gujarat’s Kheda district in October last year, the
police ended up arresting at least 74 people, according to the lawyers of the
accused.
The next morning, the police drove some
of the detained Muslim men to the square. They dragged nine men off the
vehicle, tied them to a pole one by one and beat them up with a stick as a
crowd shouted “Jai Shri Ram”.
More than 48 hours after the incident,
Nafees, in consultation with other activists, sent a legal notice to the
Director General of Gujarat Police demanding action against the policemen.
“Everyone was angry, but no one was
coming forward,” said Nafees. “In Gujarat, the Muslim community lives in fear,
and it is deep-rooted, but this brutal act had to be countered, so I took the
lead.”
Encouraged by Nafees’s determination,
five of the nine men who had been publicly flogged approached the Gujarat High
Court seeking action against the policemen.
Their year-long struggle bore fruit last
fortnight. On October 19, the Gujarat High Court sentenced four policemen to 14
days of imprisonment holding them guilty of contempt of a Supreme Court
judgement on custodial torture. The bench of Justice AS Supehia and Justice Gita
Gopi described the public flogging of the Muslim men as “inhumane” and an “act
against humanity”.
The High Court, however, stayed the
order for three months to enable the convicted police officials to file an
appeal. Though the punishment is not harsh, activists and lawyers hope it will
serve as a deterrent for the police and set a legal precedent for cases of
custodial torture.
Detention, then humiliation
According to ArifmiyaMalek, the uncle of
one of the victims, on that evening of October 3, some Hindu men attending the
garba event went to a nearby mosque and started shouting provocative slogans.
They also threw gulal at the mosque. “They created a nuisance and desecrated
the mosque,” Malek said. In response, a group allegedly threw stones at a temple
close by, according to a police complaint.
Later that night, after the situation
had eased, the police swung into action.
SahazadmiyaMalek, 30, said he was asleep
when personnel from the Special Operations Group of the Gujarat Police barged
into his home. They beat up SahazadmiyaMalek and his mother, Maqsooda Bano, who
is in her late 40s, and rounded them up into a van with 14 other men. “I told
them I was at work and did not commit any violence but they did not listen,” he
said.
SahazadmiyaMalek, his mother and the
others were taken to a facility operated by the Special Operation Group, where
they were kept for the night.
Around 4.30 the next morning, the police
registered a case of rioting under sections of the Indian Penal Code. At noon,
the police brought the detainees to Undhela village and publicly flogged nine
men in the village square, said SahazadmiyaMalek.
A video of the episode, which later went
viral, shows a police official flogging the men one by one with a baton while
the crowd cgeers. The police can be heard asking the crowd to shiitvideos and
make them go viral on the internet. “They forced us to fold our hands and
apologise to the public,” said SahazadmiyaMalek.
He added: “My mother was watching from
the van when they were hitting us. It must have been very painful for her.”
Said ArifmiyaMalek, “They had crossed
all the limits of humanity. It hurt us. Everyone in the village cried, and we
felt so helpless.”
Advocate Iqbal Syed, who represented the
men in the Gujarat High Court, said that the incident was not arbitrary. The
fact that a crowd that gathered showed planning. “The police wanted to create a
spectacle and also send a message,” said Syed.
Harsh Sanghavi, Gujarat minister of
state for home affairs, had later lauded the police for flogging the men,
claiming that this would ensure that “the people of Gujarat could play garba”
late into the night.
After the police flogged the men, they
were put back into the van and taken to Matar Police station in Kheda, where
they were formally arrested in the evening.
“We waited for a day to see if the
police would take action against their men on its own, but there was none,”
said Nafees, who leads the Minority Coordination Committee Gujarat, a civil
society group.
The next day, on October 5, when the men
were produced before the judicial magistrate, they complained about the police
atrocities. The magistrate ordered that a medical examination be conducted on
them. The medical reports confirmed the “assault by police with injuries” on
the victims, notes the high court verdict.
On October 7, following Nafees’s notice,
the police department ordered an inquiry by a deputy superintendent of police.
It found that six policemen were “prima facie involved in the incident of
physical abuse”.
According to Nafees, this encouraged the
families of the victims to come forward and pursue the matter legally, said
Nafees.
Gulraiz Syed, an advocate who
represented the Muslim men in a lower court in the case of alleged rioting,
said five men decided to approach the High Court.
The victims, while still behind bars,
filed a contempt petition in the Gujarat High Court seeking action against the
police for violating the Supreme Court’s guidelines in the DK Basu case. In the
1996 case, the court laid down guidelines for the police to follow while
arrested accused people and taking them into custody.
Family determination, resolve
Advocate Iqbal Syed said that despite
“clear evidence”, the police at first denied committing the offence. “On their
request, the High Court directed the chief judicial magistrate to conduct an
inquiry, and they were found involved,” he said.
The police personnel had initially
contended that the petition was not maintainable. But when the High Court in
October ordered the framing of contempt charges against them, they tried to
justify the incident saying “that giving three to six hits on the buttocks
would not amount to contempt”.
The police took contradictory stances.
“On the one hand, they justified the act and on the other hand, they offered an
unconditional apology,” said Syed.
Advocate Gulraiz Syed said that in
October there had beemg pressure on the victims and their families to reach a
monetary settlement with the police in the contempt case.
“The community came together in support
of the victims and families and held a meeting where it was decided to refuse
the offer of compromise,” he said. Finally, on October 19, the High Court
convicted the four police officers: Inspector AV Parmar, sub-inspector DB
Kumavat, constable RajubhaiRameshbhaiDabhi and head constable
KanaksinhLaxmansinh.
Activists praised the resolve of the
victims and their families to stand firm in their pursuit of justice.
“Fighting against an ordinary criminal
is one thing, but fighting a case where the police are the accused is a
different challenge altogether,” said Nafees. “Add to that, the hands of these
victims were tied because they were in jail facing a case being investigated by
police that they were fighting against.”
Gulraiz Syed said that cases of police
brutality against Muslims are frequent. “So we decide that we have to fight
back to put a halt to it,” he said. “We wanted to set an example.”
While the lawyers, activists and victims
say that even though the 14-day imprisonment appears insignificant, they are
pleased with the verdict. “The police had tried every trick to get the case
dismissed, but we won it eventually,” said Gulraiz Syed.
Iqbal Syed said the verdict will serve
as a deterrent for the police. “The police will have to think twice before
repeating anything like this,” he said, adding that the case will help set a
legal precedent in similar cases of custodial torture. “It’s still a ray of
hope, if not an entire beam of light, in this darkness,” said Nafees.
Source: scroll.in
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://scroll.in/article/1058072/ray-of-hope-how-persistence-led-to-conviction-of-four-gujarat-policemen-who-flogged-muslim-men
--------
Power games: Government deputes top
officers to save 8 navy men
30th October 2023
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trusted
diplomat Deepak Mittal is spearheading India’s efforts to help eight former
Indian Navy personnel, who have been awarded death sentence by a court in
Qatar. Mittal, a 1998 batch IFS officer, has served in Qatar as India’s
ambassador for two years and was in Doha when the eight Indians were picked up
by the Qatari intelligence agency in August last year. He left Qatar soon after
the arrests and is currently serving as an Officer on Special Duty in the Prime
Minister’s Office. Mittal is known to be adept at handling sensitive
assignments.
He led India’s first formal diplomatic
engagement with the Taliban regime and was also part of the team that defended
Kulbhushan Jadhav at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Mittal is
being guided on the Qatar issue by external affairs minister S Jaishankar and
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. The charges against the eight arrested
Indians have not been revealed by the Qatari and Indian authorities. Media
reports have, however, suggested that they have been charged with spying for
Israel and passing it sensitive information on Qatar’s top secret defence
projects.
Mittal will now engage with the Qatari
leadership to seek their release. According to sources, the strategy is
two-fold – provide legal assistance for appeal in the higher court and approach
the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, for a pardon. Qatar’s Emir
has the power to pardon or commute a sentence. He uses this power to release
prisoners every year on Qatar’s National Day on December 18. South Block
expects leniency from the Emir in the light of close economic relations between
the two countries with India importing almost half of its requirement of
liquefied natural gas from Qatar.
The acrimony between Rajasthan state
Congress unit and DesignBoxed, a private company handling party’s publicity for
the ongoing assembly elections, has reached the Congress headquarter in New
Delhi. A complaint has been lodged with the party’s top leadership that
DesignBoxed has been focusing only on Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his
government’s schemes, and not giving enough space on posters, hoardings and
other publicity material to the Congress central leaders.
The central leadership has also been
informed that the company has kept the state unit completely in the dark about
the publicity plan and strategy. There are reports that Rajasthan Congress
president Govind Singh Dotasra had a heated exchange with the DesignBoxed owner
Naresh Arora in the presence of All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge
of the state Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa over the campaign strategy. Dotasra
later told mediapersons that private companies were hired to assist the party in
its campaign. They cannot dictate the party, he said, and added that if these
companies knew everything they would have formed their own government. The AICC
will take a call on the extent of the company’s involvement in the party’s
campaign.
Source: newindianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/oct/30/power-games-government-deputes-top-officers-to-save-8-navy-men-2628298.html
-------
North America
US asking Israel ‘hard questions’ on
Gaza military assault: White House
October 29, 2023
WASHINGTON: White House national
security adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday would not acknowledge differences
between the US and Israel over the military assault on Gaza, but emphasized that
Washington was being candid with its ally.
Faced with growing outcry over Israel’s
bombardment of Gaza since the deadly Oct. 7 attacks inside Israel by Hamas
militants, Sullivan said, “We do not stand for the killing of innocent people,
whether it be Palestinian, Israeli or otherwise.
Israeli forces are expanding ground
operations in Gaza while their fighter jets have struck hundreds more Hamas
targets on Sunday in what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the
second phase of a three-week-old war.
Asked if there was any “daylight”
between the two allies on Israel’s military operation, Sullivan told CBS’ “Face
the Nation” they were discussing hard questions, humanitarian aid,
distinguishing between terrorists and innocent civilians, how Israel is thinking
through its military operation.
“We talk candidly, we talked directly,
we share our views and an unvarnished way and we will continue to do that,”
Sullivan said.
“But sitting here in public, I will just
say that the United States is going to make its principles and propositions
absolutely clear, including the sanctity of innocent human life. And then we
will continue to provide our advice to Israel in private.”
The three-week-old Israel-Hamas war
enters what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said could be a “long and
difficult” new stage, President Joe Biden is calling on Israeli and Arab
leaders to think hard about their eventual postwar reality.
It’s one, he argues, where finally
finding agreement on a long-sought two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian
conflict should be a priority.
“There’s no going back to the status quo
as it stood on Oct. 6,” Biden told reporters, referring to the day before Hamas
militants attacked Israel and set off the latest war. The White House says
Biden conveyed the same message directly to Netanyahu during a telephone call
this past week.
“It also means that when this crisis is
over, there has to be a vision of what comes next, and in our view it has to be
a two-state solution,” Biden said.
The push for a two-state solution — one
in which Israel would coexist with an independent Palestinian state — has
eluded US presidents and Middle East diplomats for decades. It’s been put on
the back burner since the last American-led effort at peace talks collapsed in
2014 amid disagreements on Israeli settlements, the release of Palestinian
prisoners and other issues.
Palestinian statehood is something that
Biden rarely addressed in the early going of his administration. During his
visit to the West Bank last year, Biden said the “ground is not ripe” for new
attempts to reach a permanent peace even as he reiterated to Palestinians the
long-held US support for statehood.
Now, at a moment of heightened concern
that the Israel-Hamas war could spiral into a broader regional conflict, Biden
has begun to emphasize that once the bombing and shooting stop, working toward
a Palestinian state should no longer be ignored.
Until recently, Biden had put far more
emphasis on what his administration saw as the achievable ambition of normalizing
relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors than on restarting peace talks.
Even his national security adviser, Jake
Sullivan, in a lengthy essay that was written shortly before the Oct. 7 attack
and described Biden’s global foreign policy efforts made no mention of
Palestinian statehood.
In an updated version of the Foreign
Affairs essay posted online, Sullivan wrote that the administration was
“committed to a two-state solution.” White House officials also say the
normalization talks have always included significant proposals to benefit the
Palestinians.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2399741/world
--------
Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters
march in New York
October 30, 2023
NEW YORK: Thousands of pro-Palestinian
protesters poured onto the streets of Brooklyn, New York’s largest district on
Saturday to voice their anger at Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
Home to between 1.6 and two million Jews
and hundreds of thousands of Muslims, New York has for the past three weeks
been rocked by demonstrations, rallies and vigils in support of the
Palestinians and Israel.
Left-wing American Jewish activists are
also up in arms against Israel’s aggression against Gaza.
Hundreds of people were arrested Friday
when police broke up a large demonstration of mostly Jewish New Yorkers who had
taken over the main hall of Manhattan’s Grand Central station in protest at
Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.
“We’re mobilizing all across New York
City, flooding Brooklyn,” to call for the “liberation (of) each and every
single Palestinian”, said 21-year-old protester Abdullah Akl.
Protest organizer NerdeenKiswani took
aim at American “politicians” for their unwavering support of Israel.
“We are here as
New Yorkers to say that we’re against
this and we’re against the politicians, the local politicians as well like New
York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, who have
both pledged unconditional support to Israel,“ said Kiswani.
Their stance “means that they provide
unconditional support to the killing of our people,” added Kiswani.
Adams, who governs a city of nearly nine
million people, including the world’s largest Jewish community after Israel,
has repeatedly assured pro-Israel rallies that Israel’s “fight” is New York’s
fight too.
New York media and AFP TV estimated the
crowd at thousands of demonstrators, who waved “Free Palestine” and “By any
means necessary” placards.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1784875/thousands-of-pro-palestinian-protesters-march-in-new-york
--------
Canadians calls for Gaza ceasefire, end
of Western funding for Israel
30 October 2023
Canadians have staged a protest in
Toronto to demand an end to the Israeli genocide of Palestinians in the
besieged Gaza Strip, denouncing the Western support for Tel Aviv.
The protesters marched on the US
Consulate General on Sunday, as they held banners and Palestinian flags, and
chanted “Hey, hey, ho, ho, the occupation has got to go.”
“We’re here to demand an immediate
ceasefire, to demand an end to both US and Canadian funding and support of
Israel’s genocide, and also to call on Canadian people to join us, to take a
stand, to lift Israel’s 70-year long siege on Gaza, whereby Israel controls
Gaza’s air, land and water,” YaraShoufani, a member of Palestinian Youth
Movement Toronto, said.
The rally, which was organized by the
Palestinian Youth Movement Toronto, was also attended by members of the
Independent Jewish Voices.
“We’re here as Jews to stand in
solidarity with the Palestinian people, demanding an immediate ceasefire,
demanding Israel let in humanity and aid. They’ve only let in a shameful 80 trucks.
End the genocide and the occupation, and Canadian complicity in all this,” Gur
Tsabar, a member of Independent Jewish Voices, said.
“Secondly, to speak to all my fellow
Jews, a lot of us are descendants of the Holocaust and we all need to look deep
down inside, because this is straight-up genocide and it’s being done in our
names,” Tsabar added.
Alisa Gayle, another member of
Independent Jewish Voices, said “As a Jew, I am absolutely heartbroken. It is
devastating to see that this is being done in our name. It’s never anti-Semitic
to criticize Israel or to criticize war crimes.”
“We need to stop this. We need our
government to demand a ceasefire. We need the ceasefire now. We’ve already lost
thousands and thousands of innocent civilians. And it’s horrible collective
punishment.”
Iranian and Qatari foreign ministers
call for an immediate end to Israel’s brutal war against the besieged Gaza
Strip.
Similar solidarity rallies have rocked
several countries across the world since the start of the Israeli aggression
earlier this month, including those whose governments have expressed staunch
support for the Israeli regime, such as the United States, the United Kingdom,
and other European countries.
Israel launched the war on Gaza on
October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise
Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli
regime’s decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against
Palestinians.
Tel Aviv has also blocked water, food,
and electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal strip into a humanitarian crisis.
The regime has further ordered 1.1
million people in the north of Gaza to evacuate and move south of the coastal
sliver.
However, it has continued to rain down
bombs on the south.
The aggression has so far killed 8,005
Palestinians, including 3,342 children, and injured more than 20,000 people, 70
percent of them children.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/30/713679/Canadians-voice-solidarity-with-Palestinians
--------
South Asia
Imam of Holy Masjid-e Nabawi Calls On
Bangladesh PM, Says Bangladesh Is His Second Country
29 Oct 2023
DHAKA, Oct 29, 2023 (BSS) - Visiting
Imam of the Holy Masjid-e Nabawi in Medina of Saudi Arabia Sheikh Dr Abdullah
bin Abdur Rahman Al-Bua'Yjan today said Bangladesh is his second country.
"The people of Bangladesh and Saudi
Arabia are very close due to religious bondage despite geographical distance
between the two countries," he said.
Sheikh Dr Abdullah bin Abdur Rahman
Al-Bua'Yjan said this as he paid a courtesy called on Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina at Ganabhaban in the evening.
After the meeting, Prime Minister's
Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefing the newsmen said, the Imam of the Holy
Masjid-e Nabawi in Medina described Bangladesh as his second country.
Sheikh Dr Abdullah bin Abdur Rahman
Al-Bua'Yjan said, he is praying for the well-being of Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina and the people of Bangladesh.
He said that he also prayed to the
Almighty Allah for the long life of the Prime Minister and grant her the
ability to serve the holy religion Islam and the Muslim Ummah.
Sheikh Dr Abdullah bin Abdur Rahman
Al-Bua'Yjan informed the Prime Minister that most of the Khadems working in
Masjid-e Nabawi are Bangladeshi nationals.
Regarding the model mosques being
constructed across the country, the Imam of the holy mosque said, the Almighty
Allah gives numerous blessings to those who build mosque.
At the meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina welcomed the Imam of Masjid-e Nabawi in Dhaka and said his presence at
the National Imam Conference- 2023 would encourage the people of Bangladesh
towards the true essence of Islam.
She said attempts were made to kill her
several times and she survived the attempts with the blessings of Almighty
Allah.
Referring to her performing Hajj, the Prime
Minister said, she performed Hajj for the first time in 1984 and later she also
performed Hajj on behalf of her Father Bangabandhu and Mother Bangamata.
During the time, Sheikh Hasina said that
she will attend the upcoming OIC Conference on Women in Islam to be held in
Jeddah and will offer Ziarat of the holy Rawjah Mubarak of Prophet Hazrat
Mohammad (Peace be upon him).
In reply, Sheikh Dr Abdullah bin Abdur Rahman
Al-Bua'Yjan said that he will be eagerly waiting to receive the Prime Minister
at the holy Masjid-e Nabawi in Medina.
PM's Private Industry and Investment
Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, State Minister for Religious Affairs MdFaridul
Haque Khan, Ambassador-at-large Mohammad Ziauddin, PMO Secretary Mohammad
Salahuddin, Religious Affairs Secretary Md A Hamid Zamadder and Ambassador of
Saudi Arabia Essa Yousef Essa Al Duhailan were present.
Earlier, Chief Executive Officer of the Global
Center on Adaptation (GCA) Professor Dr Patrick V Verkooijen also paid courtesy
called on the Prime Minister at the same venue.
The Press Secretary said that Patrick V
Verkooijen highly appreciated the leadership of Prime Minister on the issue of
climate change in the international forums.
During the time, he showed the model of
Head Quarter office in Notre dame of the Netherlands which looks like a
floating water vehicle, while the Prime Minister expressed keenness to build a
convention center like establishment in Bangladesh.
The Chief Executive Officer of the GCA said,
about US$ 320 million has so far been spent for the climate change issues.
In response, Sheikh Hasina said that her
government has been working to create green belt on the coastal regions through
tree plantation programmes, while her party Awami League has been planting
saplings for aforestation since 1985.
Ambassador-at-large Mohammad Ziauddin, Special
Envoy to the Climate Vulnerable Forum's Presidency Abul Kalam Azad and PMO
Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin were present.
Source: bssnews.net
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.bssnews.net/news-flash/155513
---------
BNP-Jamaat Hartal: With Sticks And Rods,
Awami League Men Guard Dhaka
Oct 30, 2023
Awami League leaders and activists were
seen in the major intersections of the capital yesterday protesting the Hartal
called by BNP and Jamaat.
AL along with their associate
organisations gathered with sticks and rods
in different intersections including Mirpur-1, Mirpur-10, Uttara,
Gabtoli, Naya Paltan, Motijheel, Jatrabari, Khilgaon and Dhaka University
areas.
Police were also seen in those
intersections. They were patrolling with water cannons and armoured vehicles
while Rab and BGB members also joined them.
Besides, AL activists took position in
front of its central office at Bangabandhu Avenue in the morning. They joined
their pre-declared "peace and development rally" there.
Jubo League also held a separate
programme at the same spot. Meanwhile, Awami Sramik League held a rally in
Motijheel area while BCL brought out a procession on DU campus and joined a
rally in TSC area.
Talking to journalists at Dhanmondi
party office, ObaidulQuader, AL general secretary, said they will continue
their "peaceful rally" on the streets in the coming days.
"We will not go for any clash if we
are not attacked. We are talking about a peaceful election. But if anybody
attacks us, we will do whatever the situation demands," he said.
Replying to a query, he said they will
not initiate any political dialogue ahead of the upcoming elections.
"If BNP agrees with four 'settled
issues', some talks can be initiated. The settled issues are -- no caretaker
government, Sheikh Hasina will be the prime minister of the election-time
government, the parliament will be in the status quo and no change will come in
the Election Commission," he added.
Quader said BNP showed its face again by
attacking the police, chief justice's residence and journalists in their grand
rally on Saturday.
"If you [BNP] want changes, join
the election. We are committed to hold the election in a free, fair, peaceful and credible
manner," Quader added.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/hartalrallies/news/bnp-jamaat-hartal-sticks-and-rods-al-men-guard-dhaka-3456686
-------
Muttaqi Meets With Diplomats of Islamic
Emirate in Turkey
October 29, 2023
The acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan
Muttaqi, met with the diplomats of the Islamic Emirate in Turkey and urged them
to perform their duties and provide services to the Afghans based in Turkey
without any discrimination, the spokesman for MoFA said on X.
Balkhi in a separate tweet wrote that
Muttaqi met with the Special Coordinator, Independent Assessor of the UN,
Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu in Istanbul, and Muttaqi stressed that that Afghanistan
is no longer an unsafe conflict-mired country, “but peace & a central
government prevail, hence the international community should step forward
vis-a-vis constructive interaction in line with the current ground realities.”
“Ensuring security, countering
narcotics, economy, health, transparency, governance and services, and considering these steps taken
by IEA as constructive for engagement with the international community, FM
Muttaqi added that despite all these achievements, the international community
has insisted on one-sided demands,” Balkhi said.
This comes as the Afghans based in
Turkey urged the Afghanistan’s consulate to provide more facilities for Afghan
nationals.
“The distribution of electronic
identification has not started here. Many Afghans are facing problems. The
distribution of the visas must be resumed,” said Faisal Nizami, an Afghan
refugee.
“The Islamic Emirate should address the
problems of the Afghan youth here,” said Wahid Amini, an Afghan refugee.
The political analysts called Muttaqi’s
visit to Turkey effective for the improvement of relations between Kabul and
Islamabad.
“The visit of the country’s officials is
beneficial, it doesn't matter whatever purpose they are,” said Mohammad Afzal
Habib Safi, a political analyst.
According to Balkhi, the acting foreign
minister “paid a visit to the Ismailağa Academic Center in Istanbul.”
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-185790
--------
Afghan refugees complain of mistreatment
by Pakistani police
October 29, 2023
Local officials in Kandahar province
said Sunday that the number of Afghan refugees returning from Spin Boldak
crossing has increased and that the immigrants who have just been deported
criticize from the ill treatment of Pakistani police officers.
The returned refugees say all their
assets and properties remained in Pakistan and that the country’s police
forcibly deported them.
“They gave us a month deadline, everyone
sold everything they had for half the price and came home. I have no crime but
just being an Afghan,” said Bakhtiyar, a deported refugee.
“There is a lot of oppression against
Afghan refugees and they also don’t own their property. They [Pakistanis] enter
the houses of the immigrants at night and take money from them,” said Painda,
another deported refugee.
Local officials meanwhile said that
since past forty days, nearly 5,000 thousand families have returned to the
country from Spin-Boldak crossing alone, which totals 30,000 individuals.
“The situation is very critical and the
immigration principles are not respected in Pakistan and the refugees are
forcibly deported in this cold weather,” said Abdul Latif Hakimi, an employee
of the Kandahar Immigration Department at Spin Boldak crossing.
According to statistics, 1,800 Afghan
refugees have returned to the country from Pakistan only on Saturday and the
majority of them have been forcibly deported.
While Pakistan’s deadline for deporting
Afghan immigrants will end in two days, hundreds of Afghan refugees have left
Pakistan before the deadline.
Although it is pleasant for Afghan
migrants to return home, but the misbehavior of the Pakistani police and the
forced deportation has angered them. They say that the behavior of the
Pakistani police in visiting Afghans homes in Pakistan is inhumane.
The houses of Afghans are attacked at
night and Afghans are forced to leave their everything and leave Pakistan,
refugees said.
Pakistan’s deadline will end in two days
and the country has decided to deport 1.7 million Afghan refugees.
Source: ariananews.af
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.ariananews.af/afghan-refugees-complain-of-mistreatment-by-pakistani-police/
--------
Uzbekistan economic delegation arrives
in Afghanistan
Fidel Rahmati
October 29, 2023
The government’s Ministry of Industry
and Commerce has announced that a 45-member economic delegation from Uzbekistan
has officially arrived in Afghanistan on a diplomatic visit.
Abdul Salam Jawad, spokesperson for the
Ministry of Industry and Commerce, has announced that this delegation, led by
JamshidKhojaev, the Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, arrived in Kabul on
Sunday morning.
According to Mr Jawad, the delegation
includes ministers from mines, transport, commerce, and Uzbekistani traders,
comprising 45 members.
Officials from the Ministry of Industry
and Commerce have emphasized that the core focus of the Uzbekistani
delegation’s visit to Afghanistan is the enhancement of bilateral trade ties
and the collaborative resolution of transit-related challenges between the two
countries.
This visit underscores the commitment of
both Uzbekistan and Afghanistan to foster economic cooperation and address the
practical logistics of cross-border trade for mutual benefit.
Furthermore, the ministry has indicated
that during this trip, the Uzbekistani delegation will inaugurate an exhibition
of their country’s commercial products in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, earlier, several high-ranking
delegations from Uzbekistan had also visited Afghanistan.
Since the resurgence of the Taliban
administration in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan has maintained political and trade
relations with the country.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/uzbekistan-economic-delegation-arrives-in-afghanistan/
--------
Uzbekistan Delegates Call for Peace in
Afghanistan
October 29, 2023
Bibi Amina Hakim
JamshidKuchkarov, the Deputy PM–
Minister of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, called for peace and stability
in Afghanistan, saying it is important for the region, and he pledged that his
country will cooperate in the transit, trade and agriculture sectors of
Afghanistan.
Kuchkarov visited Afghanistan on Sunday
and met with several officials of the Islamic Emirate including the Deputy
Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and the acting
Minister of Industry and Commerce.
“The ministers of agriculture and water
resources of Uzbekistan are among the delegation and want to use their
experiences in Afghanistan,” he told a gathering held at the Arg.
Meanwhile, the office of the deputy PM
also said that the two sides discussed trade, transit and economic relations as
well as cooperation in railways, transport, the extraction of mines, water
management and the facilitation of educational opportunities for Afghan youth.
“The visits of the senior delegation
shows that the contacts between the two sides are strengthening. We hope we
have good improvements in this meeting, particularly in the field of trade and
transit,” Mullah Baradar said.
The acting Minister of Industry and
Commerce, Nooruddin Azizi, said that efforts are underway to increase trade
between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan to $3 billion and that the Hairatan port
will be operating 24/7 from next month.
“The decision has been taken that our
trade will be boosted from $600 million to $3 billion because the President has
said to increase the trade rate to $2 billion but we are happy that we will
increase it to $3 billion,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Chamber of
Commerce and Industry urged the officials of the two-countries to boost
facilities for the traders on the two sides.
“There was no security before in
Afghanistan. There was only poppy cultivation… Afghanistan is now a good field
for investment,” said Mohammad YounusMomand, first deputy of the ACCI.
An exhibition of the Uzbekistani
products was also inaugurated with the presence of the
delegation in the Chaman Hozori park of
Kabul.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185784
--------
High Commission Meeting Addresses
Challenges of Returning Afghan Refugees
2023-10-29
KABUL (BNA): The High Commission for
Responding to Afghan Refugees’ Challenges recently convened a meeting to
discuss the provision of essential assistance to Afghan refugees returning to
the country.
According to a statement from the Deputy
Prime Minister’s office, the meeting was chaired by Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi,
the Administrative Deputy of the Prime Minister.
The meeting outlined the
responsibilities of various committees within the commission and instructed
them to begin their work in assisting and managing the returnees.
One of the key issues discussed in the
meeting was the provision of assistance to returning migrants using the
available resources of the government.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://bakhtarnews.af/en/high-commission-meeting-addresses-challenges-of-returning-afghan-refugees/
-------
Rights worker writes to UN about
Bangladeshi migrants’ dire situation in Malaysia
Oct 30, 2023
A migrant rights worker in Malaysia has
written to the UN about the "dire" situation of hundreds of
Bangladeshi expatriate workers allegedly struggling in debt bondage and are
jobless in the Southeast Asian country.
According to a report published today by
Free Malaysia Today (FMT), Andy Hall, frustrated with the poor response from
Malaysian authorities, has written to the United Nations Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in this regard.
He provided details of their poor living
conditions, including cramped quarters, poor sanitation, limited food and how
they became indebted due to exorbitant recruitment costs during the past 18
months or more, said the report, published today.
Hall also sent the documented complaints
to the UN Special Rapporteurs on Slavery, Trafficking, Migrants, Poverty and
the Working Group on Business and Human Rights, and Pia Oberoi, the senior
adviser on migration and human rights for Asia Pacific.
In the complaints, he focused on the
Malaysian government's admission that there was currently an excess of about
250,000 Bangladeshi workers in the country.
"Based on the case studies and
correspondence with the Malaysian authorities, I would like to urgently request
the UNHRC to invoke the special procedures of the OHCHR to resolve the
situation in Malaysia.
"The government has admitted that
there is an excess of around 250,000 workers in Malaysia, which has resulted in
systematic forced labour, modern slavery and debt bondage," he said.
Hall said the onus was on the government
to explain how such a situation could have occurred in the first place, adding
that if the applicants for migrant workers had been bona fide, there should not
be excess workers in the country.
FMT recently wrote that, Malaysian Home
Minister Saifuddin Nasution said relaxing regulations on the hiring of migrant
workforce and the recalibration exercise led to an excess of over 250,000
foreign workers in the manufacturing and service sectors.
Citing one of the documented cases, Hall
said it involved 400 Bangladeshi workers who were in a grave situation with no
proper lodging and food, living in cramped conditions and reportedly facing
health issues.
"There are about 14 workers crammed
into one room. I have received videos from this group. The agents who brought
them here gave them RM200 each which they are using to buy food. It will not last
them for long," he wrote.
Hall said the workers should receive
their full wages in line with the signed contracts and they should be provided
with other related support.
He said the workers were living in fear
as they lack proper documents which made it risky for them to venture outside
to access essential services.
"Leaving workers in this condition
is unacceptable both on the part of brokers, employers and the Malaysian
government."
The FMT ended the report saying that it
has reached out to the OHCHR, the Malaysian labour department and the
Bangladeshi high commission for comment.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thedailystar.net/nrb/news/rights-worker-writes-un-about-bangladeshi-migrants-dire-situation-malaysia-3456886
--------
Southeast Asia
PM Anwar: Malaysia, Singapore both call
for ceasefire and humanitarian aid amid renewed Palestine-Israel conflict
By Ben Tan
30 Oct 2023
JOHOR BARU, Oct 30 — Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today that despite the diplomatic differences,
both Malaysia and Singapore share a common position on an immediate ceasefire
and humanitarian assistance on the current Israel-Palestine conflict.
This common position by Malaysia and
Singapore is in supporting the United Nations (UN) resolution for a ceasefire
that is very critical for now.
“This also includes humanitarian
assistance and that position is jointly endorsed by both countries, as well as
a majority countries in the world,” he said during a live broadcast of a joint
press conference during the 10th Malaysia-Singapore Leaders' Retreat in
Singapore.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/10/30/pm-anwar-malaysia-singapore-both-call-for-ceasefire-and-humanitarian-aid-amid-renewed-palestine-israel-conflict/99201
--------
Muslims in Japan denounce Israel against
bombing of Gaza
October 30, 2023
TOKYO: Around 1,000 demonstrators from
Japan’s Muslim community gathered in the Ichigaya district of Tokyo near the
Israeli Embassy on Sunday to protest against the bombing of Gaza.
The demonstrators voiced their anger at
the bombing of civilians in Gaza by the Israeli occupation military.
A Palestinian who has family in Gaza
told Arab News Japan that part of her family was killed by the Israeli bombings
and she wants to see a ceasefire.
Communities from different nationalities
such as Indonesians, Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, Moroccans, Turks and Uzbeks
shouted slogans such as “Israel Terrorist.”
The bombings have reportedly caused more
than 7,000 deaths on the Palestinian side and the Israeli government is
refusing to declare a humanitarian ceasefire despite United Nations
resolutions.
Protesters approached the Israeli
Embassy in Tokyo and raised the slogans of “Free Palestine,” “Israel Terrorist”
and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” They denounced “the
genocide committed by Israel” and asked people not to turn a blind eye to what
is happening in the Gaza Strip.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2399816/world
-------
Mahathir Mohamad: US behind Israeli
genocide of Palestinians in Gaza
29 October 2023
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr.
Mahathir Mohamad has strongly condemned Israel's relentless aggression against
Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Dr. Mahathir said the United States is
behind the Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.
The interview with Dr. Mahathir by Al
Jazeera Arabic was conducted on Sunday against the backdrop of escalating
Israeli atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza.
He said Israel is pursuing a strategy
that "seems to be bent on killing as many Palestinians in Gaza as
possible."
“Israel wants to get rid of Palestinians
altogether by killing them in full view of the whole world”, he stated.
The former prime minister did not mince
words in his critique of Israel's brutal actions, saying the regime's defiance
of international law is only possible because of its close relationship with
the United States.
"Israel is able to behave in this
way, defying international law because behind Israel, there is the United
States, and the United States supports everything that Israel does, including
war crimes," Dr. Mahathir said.
He denounced the influence of the United
States in the United Nations Security Council, asserting that any resolution
not in favor of Israel is likely to be vetoed by Washington.
Dr. Mahathir called on the American
people to take a stand against their government's pro-Israel policies,
suggesting that the decisions and actions of the US government might not
reflect the views of its citizens.
Dr. Mahathir stressed the importance of
condemning Israel's inhuman actions and severing diplomatic relations with the
regime.
He called on Islamic countries to unite
in disapproving of Israel's crimes, recognizing that the Organization of
Islamic Cooperation (OIC) faces obstacles in reaching a unanimous decision due
to dissenting member states.
When discussing the Israeli occupation
of Palestine, Dr. Mahathir emphasized the historical context, noting that
Palestinian land was seized by Israel, and the Palestinians are fighting to regain
what was taken from them.
He clarified that the struggle of
Palestinians should not be equated with terrorism, highlighting the need to
differentiate between acts of terrorism and the fight to regain their country.
The former prime minister also discussed
the role of the international community, with particular attention to the
United States' culpability for Israel's unlawful actions.
He stressed that the world's ability to
act against Israeli aggression against Palestinians is limited because of the
US influence and readiness to support Israel.
In conclusion, Dr. Mahathir expressed
concerns about Israel's intentions, suggesting that they aim to exacerbate
problems in Gaza, such as access to medicine and water, to weaken the resolve
of the Palestinian population.
He warned of a potential land invasion
by Israel and reiterated the urgent need for international condemnation of
Israel's actions, and called for an immediate ceasefire.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/29/713657/former-Malaysian-Prime-Minister-Israel-genocide-in-Palestine-Gaza-Strip-Mahatir-Mohamad-
-------
In appeal to stop man’s reburial as
alleged Muslim convert, Hindu family says Shariah court had no jurisdiction
By Ida Lim
30 Oct 2023
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 — A Shariah court
in Selangor did not have the powers to issue a court order for the reburial of
school teacher B. Raguram according to Islamic rites, his Hindu family’s lawyer
argued at the civil courts today.
Raguram’s religious status continues to
be disputed three years after his death, with his Hindu family saying that he
was a Hindu at his death and that he had claimed he was forced to convert to
Islam, while the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) claim that he had
converted willingly.
Raguram was never registered with
Islamic authorities as a Muslim and was also never issued a certificate of
conversion to Islam, and his identity card states he is a Hindu.
Today was the Court of Appeal’s hearing
of Raguram’s Hindu widow and two young children’s appeal, where they are
seeking court orders to quash the Shariah court’s decision for his reburial and
to prevent Mais from enforcing the Shariah court order — which would include
exhuming the body for reburial.
Immediately after Raguram’s burial in a
Hindu funeral on March 15, 2020, Mais had the next day filed court proceedings
in the Shariah High Court in Shah Alam.
Mais via a May 20, 2020 letter sought to
have the Hindu wife appear in the Shariah court to testify on May 21, 2020, but
she said she was unable to attend on that day.
On May 21, 2020, the Shariah High Court
in Shah Alam issued a court order, declaring that Raguram had converted to
Islam on November 8, 2012 and that he was a Muslim at the time of his death,
and also ordering that Mais be allowed to take necessary action to register and
administer Raguram’s purported conversion and burial of his body in accordance
with Islamic rites.
The Hindu widow and their two children
then filed a court challenge in August 2020 in the civil High Court against the
Shariah court order. The High Court in November 2022 dismissed the family’s
challenge and their appeal is the one heard before the Court of Appeal today.
Today, Raguram’s family’s lawyer K.
Shanmuga argued that the Shariah court had actually gone beyond its
jurisdiction or powers when it decided that Raguram was a Muslim at the time of
his death.
“So on that ground alone, that Shariah
court order was made in excess of jurisdiction and ought to be quashed,”
Shanmuga argued during the Court of Appeal’s hearing through the
video-conferencing platform Zoom.
Shanmuga acknowledged that there were
disputed facts in this case, as Raguram’s widow said he had converted under
duress and that there are affidavits or sworn testimonies from his colleagues
and friends to say he continued to live as a Hindu, while Mais produced
affidavits to say that he had appeared to live as a Muslim at his workplace.
Shanmuga said Mais went to the Shariah
court to obtain an order declaring that Raguram was a Muslim and asked for a
subpoena to be issued to Raguram’s non-Muslim widow to testify in the Shariah
court. This took place during the Covid-19 pandemic and also when there were
lockdowns in Malaysia.
Shanmuga said the widow had said she was
unable to go to the Shariah court due to Covid-19, with Shanmuga arguing that
the Shariah court actually has no jurisdiction to issue the subpoena in the
first place.
Shanmuga argued that Raguram’s widow’s
inheritance rights were directly affected and she should be made a “party” or
part of any court case about the husband’s religious status when he died,
instead of being called as just a witness.
“And in any event, my client ought not
to be a witness. My client has to be a party in any dispute involving any
determining of the religion of the husband.
“There are real world implications to
their legal rights, inheritance and so on, for all the appellants, as widow to
the deceased. So there are real world obligations, real world legal rights that
must be taken into consideration. The party whose legal rights are being
challenged must be party to the dispute,” he argued.
Previously, in court papers for their
lawsuit, Raguram’s non-Muslim widow and children said they are entitled to
inherit assets left behind by him as his next of kin, and suggested the
Selangor authorities are allegedly seeking to improperly and unlawfully obtain
his assets for the baitulmal (Islamic treasury which aids Muslims only) which
would cancel out the family’s inheritance rights. The assets of Muslims who die
without writing a will would go to the baitulmal.
While the Shariah High Court was relying
on the Administration of the Religion of Islam (State of Selangor) Enactment
2003’s Section 61(3)(b)(xi) to decide that Raguram was a Muslim when he died,
Shanmuga argued that the Shariah High Court would only have the power to make
the decision if “all the parties” in the case are Muslims.
Section 61(3)(b)(xi) of the Selangor
state law states that the Shariah High Court shall under its civil jurisdiction
hear and decide all court cases “if all the parties” to the case are Muslims
and if the case relates to a declaration on whether a deceased person was a
Muslim or not at the time of his death.
Shanmuga also highlighted that the same
Selangor state law’s Section 74(1) prohibits the Shariah court from making any
order that involves the “right or property” of non-Muslims, adding that
declaring whether a person was Muslim or not at the time of his death would involve
the right of his next of kin.
Having stressed that Raguram’s widow and
two young children should be part of any court case to decide on his religious
status, Shanmuga said that Mais however could not name the next of kin as
parties in the Shariah court as they are all Hindus and not Muslims. (Shariah
courts only have jurisdiction over Muslims).
Shanmuga argued that if Mais had wanted
to pursue the matter of whether Raguram was a Muslim when he died, it should
have filed a case in the civil courts instead and named Raguram’s family there
as parties to the case.
Shanmuga argued that the Shariah High
Court should not have made the court order in the first place, adding that the
Shariah court should have said it could not decide on the matter as Raguram’s
wife and children are Hindus and as not all the parties to the case are
Muslims.
“So I respectfully submit on that ground
alone, the Shariah court order ought to be quashed,” he said.
Shanmuga said if there cannot be an
amicable resolution and if there is any need to obtain a decision from the
courts over this case, it must be done in the civil courts and cannot be in the
Shariah courts.
Court of Appeal judge Datuk S.
NanthaBalan then asked the lawyers representing Mais, the Shariah High Court in
Shah Alam and the Selangor state government if they would consider the
possibility of a practical solution of pursuing the matter in the civil courts
and to name all the parties including the family in such a court matter.
NanthaBalan suggested that such a
possibility would enable the evidence on Raguram’s religious status to be
tested by cross-examination.
The two other judges on the Court of
Appeal’s panel today are Datuk MohdNazlanMohd Ghazali and Datuk Choo Kah Sing.
Mais’s lawyer ArhamRahimy Hariri and
Selangor assistant legal adviser Khairul Nizam Abu Bakar who represented the
Shariah court and the Selangor state government both said they would have to
discuss this.
After standing down and discussing with
the two other judges, Nantha then said the panel which he was chairing had
decided it will continue to hear the appeal on another date.
Nantha indicated that this would give
time for those in this case to see how they want to move forward or manage the
case, and for the lawyers to discuss with their clients such as Mais.
“It’s a sensitive issue, it has got
implications in a number of areas. So you all take advantage of the interim
period and see if you can find some sort of accommodation to take this matter
to the logical conclusion, whichever way we leave it to parties.
“I think I need to make it very clear in
case it’s lingering on anyone’s minds, this panel has not made up its mind on
anything. So we are just encouraging parties to move forward, so don’t read
anything into whatever we said. All options are on the table and we are open to
being persuaded whichever way,” he said.
The Court of Appeal then fixed tomorrow
for the appeal to undergo case management and for another hearing date to be
fixed for continued hearing.
If the hearing continues, the Court of Appeal
said it will hear arguments from Mais first.
Lawyers RajoKuppan, Kee Hui Yee,
Evangeline Yii also appeared for Raguram’s family today, while Mais was also
represented by Mohamad Ariffudin Hanafi and the Shariah High Court in Shah Alam
and the Selangor state government were also represented by assistant legal
adviser Nurul Izzah Abd Mutalib.
For more on this case, read Malay Mail’s
summary of the civil High Court’s decision when it dismissed Raguram’s family’s
challenge.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/10/30/in-appeal-to-stop-mans-reburial-as-alleged-muslim-convert-hindu-family-says-shariah-court-had-no-jurisdiction/99190
--------
Ex-Bukit Assek rep blasted for asking
Sarawak ministry to issue directives on ‘Palestine Solidarity Week’ for schools
in state
30 Oct 2023
SIBU, Oct 30 — Datuk Dr AnnuarRapaee
today blasted Irene Chang for calling Education, Innovation and Talent
Development Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah to work with Sarawak Education
Department to issue a directive on Sarawak schools’ participation in the
Palestine Solidarity Week.
Dr Annuar, who is Sarawak Deputy
Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development, likened the former
Bukit Assek assemblywoman’s call to asking the State Ministry for Education,
Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) to clean up the “mess started by
someone else”.
He said MEITD has more important tasks
at hand such as elevating the standard of education in Sarawak and working on
the blueprint to provide free tertiary education for Sarawakian students
studying in the five state-owned institutions of higher learning.
“To me, we don’t need (to issue the
directive) because it is a known fact that the letter from the Ministry of
Education (MOE) is not a directive, but a guideline for those who want to
organise the support to Palestine’s cause and therefore, to avoid unnecessary
programme, that appears to carry elements of extremism.
“Furthermore, Sarawak Democratic Action
Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen had said that he has confirmed with the
Ministry of Education that the Palestine solidarity programme is not compulsory
for schools and education institutions in the state.
“YB Chong had issued a statement
recently that he had confirmed with the Deputy Minister of Education Lim Hui
Ying that it is not compulsory for schools in Sarawak to organise the programme
of Palestine Solidarity Week. Isn’t this suffice for schools in Sarawak to be
properly informed and advised on the matter?
“I don’t understand why are we (MEITD)
asked to issue such directive for school participation in Palestine Solidarity
Week, when in the first place, we were not the one that started the whole
episode. She (Lim) as deputy minister should have gone against it before the
letter been issued.”
He was responding to Chang’s call for
Sagah to work with Sarawak Education Department to immediately issue a
directive to all schools in Sarawak to make it clear that there is no obligation
for them to participate in the Solidarity Week in support of Palestine’s cause.
The Nangka assemblyman added: “They have
to clean up their own mess. In any event, they have to revoke their own
directive.”
Dr Annuar said DAP Sarawak should ask
Lim to resign as the Deputy Education Minister if they are not happy.
“Why then, she (Lim) did not voice out
or register their unhappiness before the letter was issued?
“I liken Irene’s (Chang) call to that of
a ‘damage control’. Please don’t be doing ‘damage control’, after things had
already occurred,” he added.
Towards this end, Dr Annuar pointed out
that directing the blame to MEITD is most unfair, as the “mess” did not
originate from the state’s ministry.
Earlier, Chang had stressed that Sarawak
should take the lead to show the rest of Malaysia that the that the education
system will not be allowed to be dragged in any way into geopolitical issues
and international conflicts.
In response, Dr Annuar said: “The way I
see (it), we need to focus on more pressing issues ahead such as elevating the
standard of the country’s education, which is now lagging behind other
countries.
“And we, in Sarawak, promote racial and
religious harmony, which why we are known as the country’s melting pot.” —
Borneo Post Online
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/10/30/ex-bukit-assek-rep-blasted-for-asking-sarawak-ministry-to-issue-directives-on-palestine-solidarity-week-for-schools-in-state/99183
-------
Public funds leakage, shariah courts
among Parliament’s agenda today
30 Oct 2023
KUALA LUMPUR – The government’s tackling
of leakages in public funds, highlighted in the 2020 and 2021 Auditor-General’s
Report (LKAN), and strengthening the rights and position of shariah courts are
among the issues that will be discussed in Parliament today.
According to the order paper on
Parliament’s website, Wong Kah Woh (Taiping-PH) will be putting forward
questions on funds leakage and criticisms raised in LKAN to the prime minister
in the question-and-answer session.
During the same session, Ahmad Tarmizi
Sulaiman (Sik-PN) will ask the prime minister about efforts to strengthen the
rights and position of shariah courts as enshrined in the constitution as well
as to expand their functions to uplift shariah law in the country.
In addition, Hassan Saad (Baling-PN)
will ask the domestic trade and cost of living minister about the government’s
efforts to control the prices of essentials such as sugar, rice and other basic
necessities, which are currently posing a burden on the people.
V. Ganabatirau (Klang-PH) will direct a
question to the local government development minister on the new policy of a
more comprehensive involvement of MPs in terms of standardising local policies
in their respective areas.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Puah Wee Tse
(Tebrau-PH) will be asking the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry
about its efforts to expand the use of internet services through Starlink by
launching Malaysia’s own satellite.
Once the session is completed, there
will be a policy-level winding-up session by each ministry for the 2024 Supply
Bill.
The winding-up session will be for four
days starting today, followed by a 12-day debate on the bill for the committee
level starting November 6.
The current parliamentary sitting will
be in session for 32 days from October 9 to November 30. – Bernama, October 30,
2023
Source: thevibes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/99702/public-funds-leakage-shariah-courts-among-parliaments-agenda-today
--------
Africa
Sudan’s army and rival paramilitary
force in fresh peace talks in Jeddah
October 29, 2023
The Sudanese army and its rival
paramilitary force resumed peace talks last week in a new push to end the
nearly seven-month conflict between Sudan’s warring factions.
The revived talks between
representatives from the Sudanese army, led by Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the
Rapid Support Force paramilitary, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, are
underway in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah, the kingdom’s foreign ministry
said in a statement Tursday (Oct. 26). The talks are being brokered by both
Riyadh and Washington, the statement said.
The RSF and the army both confirmed on
Wednesday (Oct. 25) that they would participate in the talks.
Sudan was plunged into chaos in
mid-April, when simmering tensions between the military and the RSF exploded
into open warfare in the capital, Khartoum, and other areas across the east
African nation.
The conflict has reduced the capital,
Khartoum, and other urban areas into battlefields, wrecking the country’s
already dilapidated infrastructure.
The previous peace talks were held in
Jeddah earlier this year but broke down in late June. Washington and Riyadh
accused both sides of failing to abide by cease-fire deals they had agreed to.
Since April there have been at least 9 temporary cease-fire deals and all have
foundered.
In its statement, the Saudi foreign
ministry said it hoped the fresh negotiations will lead to another cease-fire
agreement and also a political agreement that will “return security, stability
and prosperity for Sudan and its people.”
More than 9,000 people have been killed
in the conflict, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data
project, which tracks Sudan’s war.
The fighting has driven over 4.5 million
people to flee their homes to other places inside Sudan and more than 1.2
million to seek refuge in neighboring countries, the U.N. migration agency
says.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/10/29/sudans-army-and-rival-paramilitary-force-in-fresh-peace-talks-in-jeddah/
--------
Ghana: EU delivers 105 military vehicles
in face of jihadist threat from Sahel
October 29, 2023
Ghana's president Nana AkuffoAdodo discussed
regional and international issues with the EU's top diplomat on Saturday (Oct.
28) in Accra.
On the occasion, Ghana received a fleet
of some 100 armoured vehicles from the European Union.
Ghana, along with Gulf of Guinea
neighbours Togo, Benin and Ivory Coast, are increasingly at risk from jihadi
violence wreaking havok in the Sahel.
"It is imperative to understand
that no single country can confront the terrorist threat on its own,"
Ghana's president said. "Collaborative efforts among nations facing this
challenge and a critical support from partners such as the European Union who
share our security concerns, remain crucial in mitigating the terrorist threat
in the West African region."
The delivery of militarisee vehicles is
officially part of aid that would later include aerial surveillance equipment
and electronic warfare systems.
In a statement, the EU said the Ghana
aid was part of a broader 616 million euros package to strengthen defence and
security of the four coastal countries of the Gulf of Guinea.
While Ghana has not yet reported any
jihadist attacks inside its territory, Benin's military say they have faced
around 20 incursions from across the border since 2021. Togo has also suffered
attacks on its northern frontier.
Eu foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell
said EU investment would also target job creation and services especially in
northern Ghana where there are concerns jihadists seek to take advantage of
socio-economic dissatisfaction.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/10/29/ghana-eu-delivers-105-military-vehicles-in-face-of-jihadist-threat-from-sahel/
---------
Global Summit in Brazzaville: Leaders
convene to protect tropical forests and combat climate change
30 October 2023
Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic
of the Congo, had the privilege of hosting the summit of the three major
tropical forest basins on the planet from October 26 to 28: the Amazon, Congo,
and Borneo-Mekong basins.
These basins represent 80% of the
world's forest cover and approximately three-quarters of its biodiversity. Over
3,000 participants, including government representatives, international
organizations, NGOs, civil society, scientists, researchers, environmentalists,
and indigenous populations, took part in this event.
At least ten Heads of State from the
continent, including Congo, DR Congo, Burundi, Central African Republic,
Comoros, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Sao Tome and Principe, were in
attendance. However, no President from the Amazon or Borneo made the journey to
Brazzaville. Colombia and Venezuela sent their respective Ministers of Foreign
Affairs.
The primary objectives of the summit
included building a global coalition to accelerate the energy transition and
strengthening collaboration between these basins, recognized as the world's
major ecological lungs, to go further. In the declaration following the
discussions, the participants reaffirmed their commitment to lay the groundwork
for a roadmap towards establishing a common framework for cooperation among the
three basins.
During the summit, President Félix
Tshisekedi of the DR Congo, a country that alone covers 62% of the forests in
the Congo Basin, expressed concern about the destruction of ecosystems by a
neighboring country, specifically Rwanda: "Currently, in the Virunga Park
(Eastern DR Congo), one of the world's most significant natural reserves in
terms of forests and biodiversity, armed activities are jeopardizing this
ecosystem, destroying it. And this decision wasn't made in Washington,
Brussels, London, or Paris. It was decided in Africa, specifically in
Kigali," he lamented.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres,
as well as French President Emmanuel Macron and former Brazilian President
Lula, participated via video conference to applaud the initiative. President of
the Republic of Congo, Denis SassouNguesso, provided the essence of the
meeting: "This summit will primarily focus on, among other things,
defining a governance framework within the scope of a new multilateralism
through a cooperation agreement, aiming for a global alliance of the three
basins," he stated.
At the Brazzaville summit on the three
tropical forest basins, the second of its kind following the 2011 meeting,
participants expressed their desire for these meetings to occur regularly. They
also hoped that these three forest regions would speak with one unified voice
at the upcoming COP28 scheduled for November in the United Arab Emirates."
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/10/30/global-summit-in-brazzaville-leaders-convene-to-protect-tropical-forests-and-combat-climat/
------
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/mob-allah-akbar-russian-airport-israelis/d/131011